Evening star., 1902-09-15
Cold and Beasts.

The northern or southern eXtremities of
the globe could not have been the cradle of
the human race, says the theory, neither
could any part of the globe where ferocious
animals abounded. For in the former case
the cold would have destroyed life before
the brain was sufficiently developed to in
vent means of making fire; and in the lat
ter, mankind would have been unable to
exist in the face of his natural enemies
save in the trees. But if arboreal life could
have allowed brain development it would
have still left man a four-handed instead
of two-handed being
So we are forced to the supposftion that
these early stages were passed on an island
free from carniverous beasts, not far from
the equator. But that could hardly have
been a small island since man would re-
quire more nourishment than so limited an
area could afford. There would have to be
variety of climate and surface and room
for survival in one part when war disease
or famines destroyed the inhabitants of
another. There would have had to be al
most continent for this gradual develop
ment. with hills and deserts and smaller
islands accessible where the human stock
might survive ravages Where, asks Prof.
Schotensack, does such a continent exist?
Australia the Only Spot.
There is small continent or immense is
land which at very remote epochs and for
varying periods appears to have had more
than one connection with southern Asia.
Here is a region where man might have de-
veloped his faculties, safe from carnivorous
beasts. but surrounded with sufficient food.
Australia has no carnivoreS large enough
to endanger the existence of man. The din
go. or Australian wild dog. Is not, indeed as
supposed, recent arrival. Its bones have
been discovered in very ancient deposits
But 1t is too small and weak to have de-
stroyed pre-human man. One of the mar
supials was also carnivorous, but neither
large enough nor strong enough to have
been at any time danger. Pursuit of the
giant and the small kangaroo, the wom-
bat. the larger and smaller marsupials and
rodents would develop the running powers
of superior creature Reptile and insect
life Is abundant: so Is marine life along the
coasts: while the honey bee Of Australia
has no sting and supplies food in large
quantities.
Australia has a climate suited to exist
ence in the open throughout the year 1t
stretches south many degrees from the
equator. It's extreme dryness provides the
materials for making fire easily. and it's
thunderstorms offer abundant examples of
hre making. whether the rubbing of the
branches by the wind or the direct bolt of
lightning ignites the dry wood While n
lacks the dense forests that would induce
a race of climbing beasts to live in the trees
and so keep both feet and hands arboresI
It Is pointed out with no little ingenuity
that climbing the tall Australian trees after
small game, eggs and honey would assist In
the development of just such feet as men
possess. -e
Mankind Once Of One Color.
But this is only one among manv obser-
vations OF the unity Of mankind. The color
OF infants belonging to the white ve,Jou,
and black races point to an original STOCK
which was reddish or chestnut In the co,-
Grafton Of skin and hair Not onIv are the
children Of the whitaa NJ fbi, h,,o 80