Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-02-11

O2rdDher closes MS record OF
the famous scientists life with these
words: "A marvellously patient and
successful revolutionizer of thought;
a noble and beloved man"
Simplicity, kindness, geniality,
modeSty, courage, were distinguishing
traits of Darwin. Arrogance and pre-
tense had no place in his makeup.
He loved truth for truths sake, and
was willing to search for it tirelessly.
Although he held at the time high
rank as geologist and biologist. it was
not until the publication of "On the
Origin of Species by Means of Natural
Selection, or the Preservation of Fa-
vored Races in the Struggle for Life"
his theories began to make great stir
in the world. In the retirement and
Quiet of his country home in the vii
lage of Down, Kent. he had for years
been making patient, laborious study
of the mystery of species. and In the
work put forth at the age of 80 he
propounded theory of biological evo-
luton, what is known as the Darwin
ian theory" In evidence of his gen.
crosby and modesty, attention should
be called to the attitude taken by him
regarding an essay written by the nat
uralist, Mr.. Alfred Russell Wallace, in
February, 1858, in which Mr.. Wallace
put forth the same theory as that he
himself had arrived at; the two men
having. independently and unknown to
each other, conceived the same very
| ingenious theory" Darwin was strong
| ~ inclined to withhold from publication
! the memoir he had ready on the sub
! ject yield priority and all honors to
I Wallace; but the matter was settled
by laying before the Linnean society
selections from the papers of both
men. Darwin's paper was read in July,
J 1858, his great work appeared in the
fall of the following year.
| AS is well known, Darwin's evolu-
| tionary theories We're regarded as
very revolutionary, aud violent attacks
were made on views and author, espe-
cially by the orthodox and religious
journals. Denunciation. satire and
ridicule were employed to express the
Judgment of reviewers, but the one
who had caused all the agitation Sc
:
attacks. but making corrections and
additions to his work A second edi-
I, ticn of the Origin of Species" ap-
/ peared six weeks after the first, a
third came out a little more than a
! year after the second. BY the time
of the sixth edition. 1872, Darwin was
able TO declare that almost every
naturalist Of the day admitted the
/ great principle of evolution.
In THE Descent of Man" he came
out openly with what had been i'm
! piled in the Origin of Species be.
/ lief in the evolution of man from ami.
NAL ancestors; after discussing the
steps in the genealogy of man, he
comes to the conclusion that from the
old-world monkeys. at a remote period
proceeded man, the wonder and glory
of the universe"
His first botanical book, ION the
Various Contrivances by Which Or
chids Are Fertilized by Insects" was
brought out in 1862, and pronounced
the most mastery treatise on any
branch of vegetable physiology tha
had ever appeared" This was followed
by The Movement and Habits o.
Climbing Plants" later by a work oil
The Variation of Animals and Plant.
Under Domesticaticn." The EXPIRES
sion of the Emotions in Man and Ami
mails" appeared in 1872. The work OIL
'Insectivorous Plants" was publishe,
IN 1875. this followed by The Eject