The morning call., 1892-03-22

a very speculative DypOlneSiS IS auVanceu
in the April humber of the OcerlaRd
Monthly or the future development and
comparative status of the people of the
Pacific Coast. The author is Samuel ii.
Seudder, who paid this coast visit in 1891
in connection with the meeting of the
American Library Association. The
thoughts which he might have uttered in
speech on that occasion are now given to
the public in magazine article We are. it
appears, distinguished by unfaltering hos
pitality and an unwayering faith in this
region becoming the garden of the world,
but be does not admit that this is all that is
in our favor He asks whether we may not
fairly expect at some future time to find
the Pacific Slope the home Of the highest
type of civilization and to see our men and
women the leaders of the world" One re-
markable characteristic assists him Ia coming
10 the conclusion That our destiny is great.
VIII the insect life Of America is con-
trasted with that OF Europe, there is seen
TO be distinctly more activity in the species
of the former Among butterflies. for in-
stance, there are cases where the Eastern
American varieties produce TWO or more
broods in the year, and the European var e.
ties only one; and in not one case in the
buttel fly world do the European varieties
produce mere broeds than the Eastern
American kinds But this dssimiiarity is
very much mod fed in California. M gen
eral fact is more striking. says Mr.. Scudder,
than the lar closer relationship existing
between the butterflies of California and
Europe than between those of Eastern
America and Europe. and he adds that this
fact Is patent in ali or nearly all groups of
animals, aud Is not confined to butterflies.
Having got thus far in his argument. Mr..
ScUdder points out that in Europe there is
a good deal of leisure. whereas in the East
ern States all life is characterized by inten-
sity aud a heavy expenditure Of vital and
nervous energy. High nervous activity or
intensity of life must, he assumes. Interfere
with the highest human development, ana
1t Is cOntended that to attain the highest
development there is need Of ENGRAVING on
the American stock that repose Of life and
of manner hich characterizes as whole
the European. As the physical conditions
of life on the Pacific Coast apparently con-
duce more TO leisure, The writer is hopeful
that some day the Californian will show his
supremacy by becoming the highest product
Of modern civilization. He admits that as
yet there Is no positive sign of this improve
ment in the race. but natures environment
is favorable, and we may await the good
time with confidence. 1t Is not mere eager
ness 10 accumulate gold which impels the
Eastern population to n feYerish haste in
business and in everything else. The high
pressure is due 10 some occult influences Of
climate and situation operative on all life,
and not simply upon man.
Mr.. Scudder's generalization Is a startling
application Of the law of evolution. To fol-
low it in all its bearings would give employ
ment TO the industry and judgment of a
second Buckle. But on the threshold there
are some obvious difficulties which 90 to
show that as far as man is concerned the
problem is very reconcile. Admitting that
in the Eastern ana Western States intense
activity prevails, how does it arise that
Canada is so exceedingly lethargic and
backward, with great country and small,
slowly augmentiUg population? Do the
Photographed conditions which stimulate
10 unrest aud uvereXertion suddenly cease
the moment the border line is crossed, or is
1t something In the race or IN political cir
cumstances that accounts for energy in the
one case and humdrum ploddiug in the
other? Other parts Of the American cOnti-
nent may be studied in the same way.
Is the activity of Eastern Mexico
more pronounced than that of the Pa
citic States? Chile. IL is true, plumes
herself upon being the most advanced eoun-
try In South America, but as far as energy
goes the Argentine Republic has given sun
dry demonstrations Of uncommon vigor
Study the matter as we may the facts are
altogether too few TO arrive at any sound
conclusion on subject so profound. Even
the benefits OF leisure in Europe are open
to investigation. Those countries like
Greece. Italy aud Spain, which were active
ana great in the past have most leisure and
are the most backward. Even France may
be said to be tending to decadence, AT least
III population, while Germany, Great Britain
and Russia are in the ascendant. The rec
ords Of the ages show that nations rise and
fall. There is progress in the human race.
bu, that progress Is not the fixed and con-
tinuous characteristic of any one people.
Nations have their infancy, their manhood
and their decTepitude.