The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-08-06
DIR. JORDAN ON EVOLUTION.

To the Editor of the San francisco CdN-SIR:
1t is a positive pleasure for me 10 commend
Dr. David Starr Jordan's paper in the August
number OF the Arena on Evolution! What 1t
Is and What 1t Is Not" both because OF Its
great merit and because 1 have had occasion,
as the readers OF THE CALL well know, TO ques-
ton and rather unsparingly criticize some OF
his recent off hand and untimely utterances
concerning the unemployed; and bear cheer
full witness to the large bility, distinguis hing
versatility and irrepressible energy OF this
notable man. In the fields of thought, where
his views have become matured by his habit
of thorough research and discriminating an
alyss, the president of Stanford University
may be designated as an authority.
There are but fifteen pages in his Arena
paper on the essential fact and province OF
evolution and the misconceptions of it which
have masqueraded under Its title, and yet IL is
doubtful il single volume OF the hundreds
that have been published on this subject can
be named which will give the average man OF
In teliigence such clear and abiding views OF
this all su bjugating doctrine OF evolution as
will this brief magazine article by PRESIDENT
Jordan.
The temptation is almost irresistible to try
to give the reader an indication of the points
considered by DR.. Jordan, but there Is no
room for it here, and l should fail to do the
su beet justice, since his treatment OF it is
model OF logical development and crisp,
com pact statement. But must inoulge my
cell TWO OF three references.
In the first place, let the reader dismiss the
thought that this may be an abstruse subject
as DR.. Jordan presents 1t. Any reader OF GOOD
average intelligence will grasp it readily as he
reads, wondering tho while that he has re-
garded the doctrine of evolution as hard
subject for mastery, and he will probably not
need to turn to his dictionary for single
definition. This may seem ambiguous COM
mendatiou to those who are accustomed TO
technical terms in the treatment OF this sub
ject, but only pay just tribute 10 DR.. Jor-
dams mastery OF it in my reference TO the
lucid manner in which he has presented it,
Tor without clcarness OF conception clearness
OF statement is impossible. think Dr.. Jor-
dan is at his b. st here in the use of trans
lucent ana forci BILE terms and in deft reference
to divergent views
think we shall agree with President Jor-
dan in his definition of evolution. sit seems
10 me-" he says, THAT the word evolution is
now legitimately used in four different senses.
1t is the name OF a branch of science; NJ is
| theory Of organic existence; 1T is q method OF
investigation, and II is a basis OF system of
philosophy" Under these four aspects the
whole scope of the matter appears harmoni-
Gus and It's several features distinctly dis
cernible. But there is no space here in which
to sketch them, and | would not II could.
That is left for DR.. Jordan.
Here Is a part OF one paragraph. showing
the brief space in which man can observe the
operation OF the laws of nature: "As a flash OF
lightning in the duration OF night, so is the
life OF man in the duration OF nature. When
one looks out on storm at night he sees for
lightning flash. All seems at rest The
branches in the wind, the f1ying clouds, the
falling rain, are all motionless in this in
stantaneous vIew.h brief as the lightning
flash in the Storm is the Lie of man compared
with the great time-record of life upon
earth" Evolution deals with this time
record.
But l forbear, and will only add that
think the reading of this beautiful little essay
by Dr.. Jordan will prove to he epoch in
the intellectual advancement OF mui titude
OIL Arena readers. JOSEPH AsBURY JOHNSON.
IL Essex street, Aug. 3, 1897.