Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-03-07
COMPETITION AND EVOLUTION.
Naj. PoWell,s Address Before the An
thrOROlOgical Society.

society were assembled In the lecture han OF Co
lumbar University last evening to hear the ad-
dress OF MAJ ]. W. Powell, retiring president of
that organization DR.. Robert Fletcher introduced
the speaker, and announced the subject to be
competition as a factor in human evolution,
audihg tnat IL was the sixth OF series OF lectures
on the topic OF "From savagery to civilization"
"Ihe world said Major Powell, els endowed
with marvelously abundant life. II all the vege-
tatlon on the earth were destroyed except one
palm, one oak. and one pine tree and these were
allowed TO grow for years without moestation,
the world would In time become q perfect jungle.
II single barrel or oysters were planted In a sea
Ded ana LETT for ten years. there would at the end
OF that time be enough TO supply every man,
woman, and child In the world bounteous repast.
IL Is beyond the p0werspf the human mind 10
comprehend the vast extent OF the reproductive
possibilities OF nature. But with all this life and
al this growth there are a multitude OF failures
The lives OF the very Iew are secured only by the
lnaTtyrd0m OF the very many. Nature gives more
NE IMAM she can support ana the result Is the sur
y1val OF the fttest In struggle for existence.
The few live because they The fayorites OF cir
cUnstanees. The earth, as the home OF living be-
lngs presents an endless variety OF such creatures
adapted TO varying conditions, and yet the fOunt-
aims OF life never fail. There IS endless cOInpe-
tition among newborn plants for existence: the
whole course OF life In these forms Is struggle, a
warfare. The plant must have air and water-the
vehicles OF nfe-and the taller and the stronger
thrive and live, while the smaller ones perish.
The life OF one means the death OF many. 1t is a
survival OF the f1ttest.
ANIMAL LIFE.
animal life is similarin this respect to plant
life The plant is the food OF the animal, and the
sweetest and most nutritious plants become the
favorite and finally the exclusive food, and thus
are destroyed, while the bitter and poisonous are
saved. The unconscious and passive warfare OF
animals, and thus IL happens that many beings
are furnished with defensive armor and some
with other means OF protection.
"The cOmEstitiOn that exists in the struggles Of
the lower Hers extends to man. even as he has
attained the higher civilization. He does not COM
pete with the plants, but he speedily destroys
from the earth those that are hurIful to him or
are not useful 10 his purposes. Nor does he CON-
pete with animals, but he has domesticated them
and trained them TO his use. Even In the highest
civilization the earth has not become too crowded
for the life OF man, and hence there is no direct
struggle between men for existence. In civilized
society man shares with fellow man, and when
there Is competition between them in a struggle
for existence crime Is produced.
THE EFFECT OF WARS
"When man struggles with man on large scale
IL is called warfare. When armies are organized
the talles strongest, bravest best are chosen for
the fight. and the weaker ones left at home. Thus
the former class OF the population is more likely
10 be destroyed, while the weaker men are pre-
served, and in this way the natural process Of
evolution Is reversed. War; therefore, Is not an
agency for the selection of the best specimens OF
mankind 10 exist and TO propagate others OF their
kind There Is a natural progression in plant and
animal evolution, but In human existence the law
OF the survival or the fttest through the struggle
for existence does not apply. The progress OF ami
Man has eInancipated himself from the tyranny OF
the law OF evolution, and has transferred the
struggle from himself TO his hands; he has passed
from the state OF struggling for existence to an
endeavor to secure greater happiness Human
progress Is by human endeavor. Man has also
transferred the struggle 10 his institutions
ITO the savage, nature Is ever a deceiver, and q
cheat; strange, foolish and false are the stories
she tells the uncivllized man. But In the evolution
from superstition TO science there is competition
science
These receptions OF nature are not wicked lies but
cunningly devised lessons, whereby the body and
mind OF man have been developed through an ex-
erciSe OF their functions.
'.All honest men are working for other men. For
the service thus performed reward is REFUSED
for the service Is given In hope OF the reward But
there are some men who labor for love, for the
children, their families, for the poor for the ul
and receive the courteous reward of an
conscience He who loves the world
loves himself, and he who hates the world hates
himself.
ECONOMIC COMPETITION.
Economic competition may have one OF two
may come from emulation or from an.
tagonism. The former results in human progress,
the latter In retrogression. 1t is at present the
greatest social problem OF the age 10 destroy an
tagonistic competition, and TO stimulate and en-
courage the cumulative kind. Injustice is such a
strange monster, and OF such a strange nature
that IL must be destroyed by society society
will be destroyed by IL.
advertising IS an oItgrOwth of competition
regularly appointed men OF the club was adopted.
an overgrowsh, and to-day the world Is flled
with m inst Lies spread before
and Ras Thos wSrd 'hs
form OF antagonistic competition. No effort
mas been made In the present age to better things
that compares In magnitude with the proposition
now before the English people TO distribute unoc-
cupied lands among the poor. 1t is a step toward
the furthering OF universal justice which In the
nature OF things must come"
Mary COnnOr's Three Dogs.
MR. CAMPBELL COMPLAINS THAT THEY DISTURB HIM
he Is so DEAF, HOWEVER, THAT HE COULD NOT
HEAR TUE JUDGES REMARKS AND THE CASE WAS
DISMISSED.
This morning in the Police Court, Mary Conner,
who lives at No 2O3 II street northeast, was
charged by Edward Campbell, who resides in the
same house, with being the owner and possessor
Of three dogs which by their barking and bowling
disturbed the quiet and comfort OF said Camp
bell Testimony was given by Mr.. Campbell to
show that the lady complained against occupied
the first floor OF his house while he lived on the
third moor The noise made by her dogs, he said,
bothered the life out OF him.
"Does Mrs. Conn0r rent rooms from your, asked
the court Eyes, SIR" he replied.
because was advised to bring the ee case to
court, anu nave no money TO spend IN getting her
Mrs Connor denied the charge She said that
her dogs were peaceable and quiet, and that they
did not annoy anyone.
The judge said that as, the testimony was one
against one he would have to give the benefit Of
the doubt TO the defendant. Mr.. Campbell was
called up and the judge proceeded to instruct him
that II the dogs again annoyed him he could get
another warrant and again bring the case to court
but told him that he mad better bring witnesses
the next time.
Much TO the surprise of everybody Mr. Campbell
announced that he was deaf and had not heard
the judge. The case W as dismissed
Interesting Exhibition.
SPECIMENS OF INDIAN HANDIwORK AT THE CAPITOL
Persons who feel an interest In the education
and civilization OF the Indian should visit the room
OF the Senate committee on Indian affairs and ex
anime a cabinet containing specimens OF the me
chanical workmanship Of the Indian pupils at the
Carlisle (Pa-l school Almost everything in the
and Industrial line Is there repre-
sented, and every article is the work OF the Indian
pupils OF the school, ranging from L. to 10 years OF
age. Tine exhibition comprises saddlery and har
ness tinware shoes and boots all sorts OF needle
work, carpenters, Joiners and cabinet work. &C.
and careful examination VIII demonstrate that
II IS all most credftably DONE The specimens were
not selected specially for exhibition but somewhat
at random Some OF the needlework will delight
ladies' who are adopts In that line. The cabinet Is
demonstration or the capacity OF the Indian mind
70 be easily adapted to the methods OF the white
man IL Is one OF the most Interesting OF all the
features Of interest In the Capitol
Real Estate Sales.
Moses and Jacob Eiseman have bought OF Peter
NJ. DuDant sub. lot Al, square 400, lS7x92 feet
situated on 9th street, between and streets
northwest, improved by three-story brick dwell
Ing, for $4,000.
MARRIAGE LIcESsEs-Marriage licenses have
ha