The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-06-05

The Open Court Publishing Company OF Chi
cago have brought out the second OF three
volumes about Darwinism by Mr. GEORGE
JOHN RoMANEs. who. next to Mr.. A. Il. Wallace.
is perhaps the most distinguished English
student Of the questions with which Darwin's
name is prominently associated. The first
volume OF the series. whose publication Is
postponed for a considerable time. will deal
with the history Of biology from tho earliest
recorded times till the appearance of the
Origin OF Species" in 1859. The third
volume. which may be expected in the autumn.
will discuss the further Developments OF the
Darwlnian hypothesis since Mr. Darwin's
DEATH which occurred In 1882. The VOL
ume before us presents an exposition Of
the Darwinian theory and considers the
various criticisms which were advanced
from time to time during tho authors
lifetime upon his fundamental principles
of natural selection and sexual selection. The
value OF this book lies chiefly in the fact that 1t
Is Intended not for protested naturalists but
for general readers. and that consequently
the author is everywhere careful to avoid as
suming even the most elementary knowledge
OF natural science on tho part OF those to
whom the present treatise is addressed. In
this respect the volume before us must differ
from its successors. in which, az treating with
tho important questions touching heredity,
utility. Isolation. &c (which have been raised
since'Darwins death. the possession OF some
technical knowledge will have to be taken for
granted. 1t would be difficult. for instance. for
the reader unacquainted with the rudinents
OF natural science to understand the views of
Prof. Weismapn unless they were translated
into ordinary untechnical language
Before adverting to the criticisms OF OAR
wins main positions and to tho arguments by
which the author meets them. We may nm.
swer the not unreasonable question. why in
the presence OF the mass OF Darwinian litera.
ture now exposition OF Darwin's teaching is
rcquircd' Tho truth is that nowadays there
are many naturalists who. without having
paid any close attention to tho subject. deem
themselves entitled to express authorita-
tive opinions with regard to Darwinism.
These men may have done admirable work
In other departments OF atural history, and
yet their opinions ON the specific researches
and conclusions OF Darwin may be destitute
OF value. AS there Ia no necessary relation
between erudition In one department OF sci.
ence and soundness Of judgment In another.
the mere fact that man Is DISTINGUISHED az n
botanist or zoGlogist dops not In itself qualify
him to criticise where specially Darwinian
questions are concerned. 1t happens now.
as 1t happened thirty years ago. that highly
distinguished botanlsts and biologists prove
themselves incapable as judges OF general
reasoning. 1t was Darwfn's complaint that |
Tor many years nearly all his scientific critics |
either could not. or would not. understand |
what he had written. and this even as re- |
garded the fundamental principles OF his the |
DRY. which. with the utmost clearness. ho had |
over and over again repeated. The only DIFF |
Terence between such naturalists and their |
successors OF the present day Is that the latter |
have grown up In a Darwinian environment |
and SO have moro or less thoughtlcssly |
adopted some form OF Darwinian creed. But |
this scientific creed Is not a whit less dog
matte and intolerant than was the more theo-
logical one which 1t has supplanted. and while
I usually incorporates the main elements OF
Darwln's teaching. 1t still more usually com.
prises gross perversions OF their conse-
Iuences. All this Mr.. Romanes has occasion
70 show at length in the present work.
1t is to be added that this book carefully
preserves the distinction between the fact OF
evolution and the manner Of II, or between
he evidence Of evolution as having taken
place somehow and the evidence Of the causes
which have been concerned In tho process.
This most important distinction Ia frequently
disregarded by popular writer's on Darwin
SIN. and therefore 1t is not until the author