New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-05-04

CHI .PTERs on EyoLUTioN by BY ANDn an wnS s9S
Phi. D., +. X. s. E. ETC.. with 259 ILLUSTRATIONS oVo
DID, 375. q. p. PutDams Sons.
Treatises arc no longer written for the specific
purpose of demonstrating the probability OF the
theory of evolution, for it has passed beyond the
stage of controversy in the history of science ana
has come to no universally accepted by competent
biologists Every fresh discovery in the :ealin OF
natural science. not only in the field of life bat III
the most widely separated branches OF knowledge,
brings to the general truth OF the theory spontane
ous support and detached facts are constantly
brought into orderly connection with the body Of
systematic science under this most comprehensive
generalization OF natural phenomenal Indeed,
since this idea has been adopted as the unvsrylng
n ethod of nature and through all time, discoy
cries in the various branches of biological science are
constantly anticipated by reasoning from the law
10 the facts which are needed to comply with its
reouirements This book does not profess to
thrown any new light upon the subject. 1t enters
into no elaborate discussion OF the factors upon
which notifications in the structure of living or
ganisms depend 1t aims simply to present III
popular form the chief points in the evidence upon
which the existence and operation of the processes
of evolution are accepted. The general argument
from structural relationship and family iesenI-
blances Is first set forth and afterward the details
of the morphologieal evidence from documentary
organs the tails, limbs a1d lunss of animals. DE
ductions from the science Of Homoogy naturally
follow and these arc illustrated by examples from
both auimal and plant life Missing links. the life
histories of animals and insects colonial animals.
flower fertilization, degeneration and the manifold
relations between geological history and the sue
cessiye phases OF organic life are the subjects OF tho
remaining chapters. The arguments are not mar
shallcd in the most effective array, but they are DO
numerous and telling chat there is no escape from
them The scientific reader can hardly tail oil
getting adequate idea of the gradual progress
sion from the lowest and simplest form OF lie TO
the most highly organized mammalia-some appre-
hension Of the lew under which variaIional differ
ences accumulate and are perpetuated until acci
dental varieties become at last permanent species
and specific differences broaden and strengthen into
established generic forms.
iir. Wilson's work wouId ha We been more effect
i've il he bad not considered IL necessary call at
tention SO frequently to the force of his argument
instead OF allowing il to approve itself. more
serious blemish is the matters lsm which is avowed
and asserted TO be the latest product of scientific
thought. Even IL ii is Admitted that every organ
ism has its origin some pro-existent living
ganism, il Is not hardly scientific to deduce from
this that all life has been developed from hfeless
past Admitting still further that all thc poton-
tiallties of mans development contained pro-
tvpasmic germ the life of the germ has still TO DO
accounted for. No science has yet been able TO
plain away the distinction between living matter
AID dead matter. No chemistry nor physics has
yet discovered how by any combination Of matter
and force single living cell can be cons:ructed-~
cell that is witlEthe power of nutrition, motion.
sensation and propagation.