New-York tribune., 1903-03-01
THE EVOLUTION OF NAN FROM THE MONKEY.
ADDITIONAL EVIDENCE IN SUPPORT OF D4RWINIAN
THEORY ADDUCED BY DR. j. L. WORTMAM

New-Haven. Feb g (speciaD.-of what sort the
ancestors and how the origin os mankind
came about have been Esooted questions ever since
the Darvinian theory OF the ancestry of the human
family first enunciated. While the ma
jority Of modern scientists have followed Oar
win in his belief that the structure of the
human body besides many other points of
similarity. points strongly to the assumption
Of apeIlke ancestor. there is stin great
diversity OF opinion to just what brought
about the ascent OF the human species through
the first and earlier and then the later groups OF
the monkey family, as to when ana why man came
upon the scene at all, and to where the first
ape originated In a series Of papers which
Eiu begin in March III The American Journal Of
Science" DR.. J. L Workman. formerly of the
American Museum OF Natural History in New
York, and who has for the last three years con-
Quoted researches in the Marsh collection Of fossil
vertebrates IN the Peabody Museum at Yale, viii
present what viii probably prove to be one OF the
most interesting contributions to this much dis
cusSsd question Of the evolution Of man In recent
scientific literature. this series, permission to
reproduce which In advance OF publication In The
Journal OF Science has been granted to The Trtb-
Epe, several new proposttiorg VIII be put fofWaro
xeSxrdinx the development Of from the ape,
Including data not only on the structural de-
Selopment Of mans ancestors. but their olstr1ou-
ton, and finally as to mans origin from them.
ls 70 the first OF these questions, the development
Of the monkeys and apes themselves. leading up
TO man. this present article concerns Itself
The idea that originated from some branch
OF the monkey family is STILL In spite Of the cur
Fsucy which has been given to 1t by the followers
Of the Dsrwinian school OF evolutionists propo-
sition that accepted, If accepted at all, by the
majority OF people with hesitation. If not with
aversion. To most people 1t is probably not
pleasant notion that man as We know him. Win
ali OF his high mental endoEments and his moral
nature is still nothing more than an 'evouted'
ape Yet. as DR.. Wortnan prefaces his nrSt
article in The American Journal Of Science by
saving the general current of opinion seems TO
he Orr1E in
clusion that the ancestry OF the human species
with all its endoEments. both mental and physical
must be sooner later traced to this source OF
origin
THAT the immediate ancestors OF tie human
species we're members of the monkey family he
adds, il a proposition that is supported by such
great mass OF collateral evidence that while not
noE capable of direct and complete demonstration
hy means OF transitional forms connecting links,
Yet is OF such d nature that II must either stand
or fall Hfrh the truth faIslty Of the doctrine
Of evolution.
Any additional evidence therefore. bearing upon
the past history OF the group to which man be-
longs fail prove OF the highest interest
even though 1t throws only side light upon the
development Of the human kind
IN first discussing the development of the monkeys
the point where il became possible, under GER
tam conditions be suggested for the first time
in q later paper for man to branch Of, DIR. Wort
man opens up several entirely avenues OF evil
dence The fact that the monkeys brain so closely
similar TO that Of man, while smaller In bulk and
less complicated IN convolutiOn. is at the time
SO sreatIy superior TO that Of the other animals
has always been a favorite subject for remark
and argument by evoiutionists. In tracing the
course Of this development. however, and in as
signing reason for II. Dr.. Workman in his forth
eSis by which this remarkable branching Of OF the
monkey intellect can be understood. In claiming
that the monkey mind evolved from that Of the
lower types OF animals. both by the influence OF
hXyf fly
exsuoiue objects with the hands and by the more
vigorous blood supply to the brain afforded by the
cerebral blood circulation peculiar to the higher
types Of the prinates and 70 man himself. the
writer Of The Journal Of Science" papers breaks
new ground also Tor the evolutionists- And finally
IN this paper Dr. Workman onefs an entirely new
suggestion as to the origin Of the prtmatea, taking
issue on this point with some OF the leading older
scientists
The various groups OF mammals" says DIR.
Workman, have been developed and specialized
along different lines. the primary cause OF which
may regard having been due solely to ad"
iustment 10 varying conditions OF environment Ii
thus happens that different sets Of organs have
been involved in these changes, that when we
attempt understand group we seek 10 learn
Ehat structures have been most profoundly AZ
fected. In the case Of the monkeys the enlarge
zent Of che brain constituted the character par
exceiIence in which they have made the greatest
progress sd IL which their evolution has been
most marked.
The very esFiy development Of prenensiie nanos
and feet and the better arrangement OF the cere-
brzI circulation have been Intimately associated
with this progress and ere therefore factors Of
prime importance. Ia other words the ortmetess
or monkeys, have adapted themselves more widely
environment than any other mammalian group.
and In consequences whenever their remains Gre
sufaeieutiy preserved it is possible 20 recognize
them with q degree OF certainty not usually found
IN other groups Of mammals.
AS regards the arEt Get of these chaFzcters-ths
enlargement OF the bran-lfke nj other specialized
features which come 20 distinguish group OF
0Eder In final or advanced stages oe tts evolution
they Of necessity less distinctly maFksd in the
esriier representatives. than In the later onss:
that - We approach the point Of origin greater
and greater eI4eultiss are sxDsEisnesd In the ae-