The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-02-26

1t Is not denied by the author Of this book
that we encounter gaps in the older or inverte-
brate portion OF our pedigree; he insists that
we have all the more reason to be satisfied with
the positive results Of the more recent or verte-
brate part OF It. All modern researches have
confirmed the views of Lamarck. Darwin and
Huxley. and they allow of no doubt that tho
nearest vertebratea ancestors OF mankind were
a series Of Tertiary primates. Prof. Haeckel
regards as particularly valuable the attempts
of the biologists. Paul and Fritz Sarasin. to
throw light upon the human phylogeny by IL
painstaking comparison OF all the skelctal
parts OF man with those Of the anthro-
poid ape. They have shown that among
the lower races of human beings the
primitive Ncddahs of Ceylon approach the
apo most nearly. while. among the apes, the
chimDanZee stands nearest to man. In our
authors judgment, the direct descent Of man
from some extinct apc-likc form is now beyond
doubt, and admits Of being traced much more
clearly than does the origin of many another
mammalian order. The pedIgrees of the cle-
plants. the sirenia. the cetacea lincluding. of
course. whalesl. and. above oil. Of the cdentata
(sloths and armadillosl, for example. are much
more obscure and difficult to explain. Ia many
parts OF their organization. as. for instance. in
the number and structure Of the five digits
and toes, man md monkeys have. remained
,huN' NJ H'i e'"A " VI Nv tiEu-
Prot. Haeckel submits that the immense sig
origin Of man from some primate does not
need to I've enforced. It's bearing upon the
highest questions OF philosophy cannot be eX-
aggerated. Among modern philosophers no
one has recognized This more distinctly than
thinkers Who. before Darwin were "onyimced
that only ny the theory OF evolution can we
solve tho enigma Of the world, SPENCER is also
the champion OF those ovolutlonistS who lay
the greatest weight upon progressive hareditv.
orthe much INFLATED transmission Of acquired
criticised and rejected the theories II Weis,,
mann, who, repudiates this most important
whole or trans'ormism by the "all-Sumciency
q Wai s smS Rave n h,,an ET m,rb I the theories OF
caeived Than on the Continent. and have re-.
ceived the appellGtion OF Neo- Dnrwinism.'
~ ne mpn 0s s TO fn am 9 re s0n"epIinn o, ey@tai
insists that neitheroi those expressions is cor
rect, He points out that Darwin himself, to-
Lamarck, OF, the Fundamental importance" 81
fact that he thrice visited Darwin Mt Down.
and on each occasion. discussed with him
agrees with Spencer In the conviction that
progressive h~credity Is an Indispensable fac
luton. II. with Weismann. we should deny
the hrredity OF ,acGu,red characters, it would
become, needinl 10 have recourse q, purely
mystical qualities 'Germ- plaSm. Prot. Haeckel
concurs in Spencer's opinion that. In that
case. IL would be better to accept a mys-
sterious creation ~ all the various species, as
this Is set forth in the Mosaic account
What. then. Is the outcome Of modern an
thropoReny from the highest point OF view. all
it's empirical arguments being rOmparel and
weighed Prof Haeckel answers that wo ara
Justified In affirming that the descent of man
from an extinct tertiary series ot primat"s is
not a vague .hypothe, lis, but an historical fact"
OF course, this fact cannot bo proved rr0ciiV.
We cannot explain all the innumerablop physical
and chemical processes, AL the physiological
mutations. which have led, during untold mil
ions % years; from the simplest monera. and
chimpapzee and to man. Many facts. how
ever, belonging To- remote history are
equally ,ipcarAble Of absolute and exact
proof We all believe, i2r instance, that
actually live; hgt it is impossible 10 give a
proot thereof within the meaning Of modern
exact science. We believe armly in the former
existence, OF these and other. great men he
cause we. know the works which they have left
behind them and recognize the effects pro-
dueed by them upon the, history OF human civ
i%ll7qtion' Prof. Haeckel contends that these
Indirect arguments do not furnish stronger
evidence than that which may be adduced for
our history as yertebrates, or many Jurassic