The sun., 1903-03-29

originally had inhabited the Arctic circle.
their own original home. The cold was
gradually but steadily advancing from
the north and the only end to this was
the final disappearance OF tropical vege-
tation. ...,-
Trapped In these peninsula areas. where
they could not escape. except to invite eI-
tinction by facing the unknown area OF cold
to the north or the sea to the south. the al
ternatives were presented Of either sue
cumbing TO the changed environment
or modifying themselves to At the new con-
ditions. In all likelihood numerous MEN,
bers Of these highly developed apes sue
cumbed,. and became extinct. Others. a
few, survived. through superior mental
equipment. and II Is at this time and In this
way that man came upon the scene
The presence Of such higher apes as the
gorilla, chimpanzee. &c., in Asia and Africa
to-day Dr. Workman explains. He says
that few land bridges existed at that
time, as now. between Europe and Asia
and Africa, and that 1t was southwark over
these approaches to the present tropical
zones that the ancestors Of these apes
escaped.
Likewise the great army Of ancestors
Of tho other animals retreated over these
land bridges. following the tropical forests.
A few remained behind. caught as were
| the apes, and probably changed their habits
and even structure to at the new environ
ment.
According to this new theory Of the evo-
| luton Of man the place Of his origin must
| be looked for along the southern shores
| Of Europe and Asia DR.. Workman says
| that the nearest approach to man yet found
among the fossil ape remains Of the old
world Ia the highly developed ape fossil
discovered by Lydekker In the Punjab
Of Indin few years ago He Is Of the opin-
icn that no better place exists in which to
hunt down the link between the anthropoids
and man than this same locality.
Trapped In theso peninsulas. 1t is DR.,
Wortman's contention that a quick and
unprecedented change came over the apes
that just preceds1 man. and that instantly
awoks their intelle,. and spanned the space
betwssn tne highest apes and the loves
man. The hrJt change came In the dn-
ference In the nature Of the food upon which
these trapped apes lived
Tie tropical forests. with their specia
fruits. were gone or were going; temperate
1
The ai,sa, accustomed to living In the trees
bot;,. u protect better themselves ard t'
find their food. came down to the ground
They then began TO live on nuts and groun'
fruit, and on sea food.
Following this change In food came
change In the structure OF the animal
| themselves. Accustomed to the uprigh
position, through the ability to grasl
branches with their hands, the immediate
ancestors adopted that posture on tn
! ground. Their feet then took on the planti
grade condition Of mans. Here was con
dition that was capable cf instant chang
to a higher one II the awakening process
|. was begun.
DR.. Workman says that this had beel
/ begun through the enforced change i
habits by the retreat Of the tropics. whc
| they we're unable to follow. he think
that this process was continued and tn
Anal development induced by the discover
,, Of fire.
Just how this came about, DR.. Wortma
adnits, can only be ,ur missed But, ie say'
, the presence OF pyrites Of iron In thoe
regions eives abundant food for oonjectur
about this point. ., -
. The apes had, by their graspine abilitie
learned long before how TO use implement
with the hands. and could break open nut
: and shells with stones. as is now done
= other apes and monkeys 10 wild stat
: To strike spark from pyrites Of iron acc
deataliy might easily have happened.
: says, and to start fire in dry grass by tn
q means could not have been extraordinary.
Continued accidents Of this kind wou
$ acqu Amt the apes with the use Of pyri''
/ to strike sparks, and with the warm'
y induced by the flames Of any fire starte,
After a long lapse Of time new habit wou
8 be- formed and fire would be added to u
= apes Accomplishments.
Is Then, able to brave the cold Of any rcgic
through being able to kindle blaze. di
~ persion would be easy. II is in this wa
o or some such way az this, DR.. Wortms
= contends, that man was evolved from u
:, apes.