The Wichita daily eagle., 1893-11-22
THE ORIGIN OF LIFE.
Pref. John A. Ryder's Theories ard Dedue-
tfons Concerning Deep Problem.

THE ORIGIN OF LIFE.
Pref. John A. Ryder's Theories ard Dedue
tions Concerning Deep Problem.
There are two questions which, tina.
been said. will never be satisfactorily
end finally answered by man. One is
What is truth? The other, What is life:
The ancients struggled unavailingly
with both problems, and the moderns
follow in their footsteps, but whether
by inductive or deduc i've methods the
result has been the same-failure. Al
the same time it is not only interesting
but of real value to follow the latest
trend OF science as it encroaches on the
/ vast sea of the unknown. Just as a
sandspit occasionally pushes out into
the ocean and forms for a time a we'll
marked promontory, but finally yields
and is utterly destroyed. SO the theories
OF science which seem so well founded
are liable to be swept away. Yet in
their time they were useful, and each
had tho possibility within it of forming
solid ground. Some of the greatest
mistakes of science have thus led to
most important results, not because of
their own value, but because from them
have grown up the solid bases of ac-
knowledged facts. 1t thus becomes
important to record every advance,
whether real or imaginary, because no
one can feretell whether it is a merely
temporary sandspit or a solid founda-
ton for increased knowledge
Prof. John A. Ryder, of the Univer-
sity OF Pennsylvania, whose work in
the cultivation of the oyster. the stur-
geon and the lobster has esta blished
his reputation as scientist even among
those who are unfamiliar with his more
abstruse and las he believes) more inn
portant studies, has recently given to
the world the result of his work on the
general subject of the origin of life it.
self. From a less authority the at
tempt would receive and deserve COM
paratively little consideration, but the
eminence of the man and the wide
scope of his knowledge render his hy-
pothesls, or, as he prefers to call it, his
conception, worthy of careful study.
Long before the microscope was in
vented the doctrine that all life sprang
from previously existing life seemed
firmly established. With the micro
scope came the discovery that all forms
OF life were aggregates of cells, and
that without cells there was no life.
Later came Virchew's generalization
that each cell sprang from previously
existing cell. This is the present Ulti-
ma Thule of science In the meantime
outlying questions without number
had been studied and answered The
theory of evolution had itself been
evolved and ella aborated: the investiea-
tion of protoplasm. or cell substance,
as the physical basis of life had been
gone over, and its character. chemical
and physical. Investigated; the numer-
Gus one-celled animals and plants had
been studied closely as forming the
best basis for the ultimate discovery of
the cause which it was recognized was
the same which governed life whether
in the lowly fungus or the highly or
ganized man.
AT the same time the difficulty re-
mained and still remains the same. 1t
is easy-granted a cell-to build up the
most complex organism. 1t is easy
granted a cell-to imagine the various
causes which have made one cell form
the basis of an oak tree. and another
to form man. and third TO make a
yeast plant. But the origin of the cell
Itself is still shrouded in mystery.
Chemistry has made wonderful adj |
RANGES in forming by synthesis bodies,
which were supposed at one time to be |
he product of life force only. 1t has
lnalyzed also the cell substance which |
appears to be the physical basis of the !
lction of that life force The physicist /.
las studied the phenomena of life |
mercy, and has definitely determined |
hat it obeys the great general law of /
he correlation of forces He has even I
inaiyzed the methods Of the produc- !,
ion of force and decided that they are. !
n large parts at least, chemical But !
10 chemist has yet formed protoplasn /
n his laboratory. and no physicist has |
ndowed dead protoplasm with the en- |
rgy OF life Prof. Ryder. however. .
oddly announces his conception that
ell structure of every kind IS simply |
u aggregation of molecules arranged |
ccording to their relative attraction.
ist as the molecules OF a CRYSTAL are /
ranged: that their varied form is th 2 !
esuit either of internal or external in. i
uences. and that their growth land. |,
all the phenomena OF
fe Is the resul. OF series of /
hysical and chemical changes. !
n general way the view is
OF original. Ii has been held bv
ANY lnen. but has always been unsup-
orted by evidence. II is 10 the col
'csion of the evidence which will prove
: disprove the theory iha, DIR. Ryder's
forts have been devoted, and, il NAV
: stated. with some remarkabE re-
hts Unfortunately the facts so e.