The Washington herald., 1909-01-24

lectual world viii celebrate with appro-
pirate ceremonies the centenary OF the
birth OF Charles Robert Darwin. Many
men have been. as generously endowed
with keen insight and with the genius
Of patient endesvor. many others have
given their deep thoughts 10 the world
in an imperishable form, but few have
found an equally happy opportunity 70
render To mankind services ike those Of
Darwin. so writes Henry Edward Cramp-
ton. professor OF zoology. Columbia
University, in the Philadelphia Public
Ledger.
Darwin was one Of the last OF the
great men who deserved the name OF
naturalist Science has grown 50 rap
idly that it IS now impossible for a single
mind 10 grasp all the detailed facts OF
zoology or Of botany or Of geology.
though during Darwin's early lifetime
these sciences were relatively simple. and
it was possible for a student Of nature 70
comprehend much. II not all. Of what
was known OF many subjects. The early
naturalists were keenly interested in al
the phenomena OF nature To-day men Of
science must necessarily become special
lists. and they must devote their tine 10
the study Of small divisions OF a single
subject in order that they may conquer
new territory and extend the sway OF
knowledge
Il is difficult for Us Of the present day
TO realize the completeness Of the intel
lectuaI revolution that has taken place
since 1S59-a revolution that has been
due in great part, though not entirely.
20 the work Of Charles Darwin Not
many men Of science now living are old
enough TO recall the state OF affairs
when Derwia's first books were pub
lished
Reality of Evolution
The reality OF evolution was recog-
nized by followers Of Button and La
marek. and Erasmus Darwin. the grand
father Of the fiUstrious Charles Oar
win. but the outlook upon the world Of
the majority Of the people. even OF nat
uralists ike Agassiz and St George
Mivart. was contracted and distorted
by the conventional idea that the vari-
Gus species % animals and plants were
created at a recent period. and that they
are unchanged. unchanging. and IN
changeable. Within fifty years al OF
this has been altered. it Is now literally
true that no student OF natural science
OF any note opposes the doctrine OF evO-
luton; the investigators in the fields OF
anthrOpolOgy. psychology. sociology and
many other departments OF knowledge
employ the methods and conceptions Of
evolution. because Of their reality and
utility IN these many fields.
Evolution, OF the doctrine OF descent -
as Il is sometimes called. comprises the
facts and principles which 90 TO show
that the various kinds OF living things
have not always existed forever and ever
in the past as we find them now; il
teaches that organisms have arisen by
changing TIE various details through gen
Grafton after generation as they have
descended from remote common ances-
tors, just as the various kinds OF locOmO-
tives or Of steamships Of the present day
have, in q true sense. evolved from their
remote ancestors in the locomotive OF
Stephenson and the crude steamship Of
Fulton.
Before Darvin's Time
Every one who is familiar with the his
tory OF science knows that the Doctrine |
Of Descent" was firmly established before |
Darwin's time by the work of anatomists
Ike Lamarck and Cuvier, and St HiIliare /
and their followers. and by the studies Of !
like Won Baer. Darwin 1
writes that when he was q student at
Edinburgh. in 1926. his professor, Doctor /
Grant. talked with him about Lamarck
and his views on evolution and about /
the famous 'Zoononia' of Erasmus Oar /
win. The work Of Charles Darwin dealt |
primarily with the natural method by l
which evolution took place; and had be /
never lived, evolution would still be /
taught to-day in very nearly its present /
FORM
Herein lies the great service OF Oar /
win-he presented for the first time an /
and consistent description OF /
the way species differentiate. Darwin /
did not regard his explanation as final or 4
even as complete. whatever his oppon- I
ents and critics Of then and now may
contend. His book. the Origin Of Spe-
cies, was published on November a, /
1889 thus giving 20 the coming year 4
an additional anniversary character It 1
presents the results of his observation 4
Ind thought Of more than twenty years;
and this book. more than any other single L
volume. ed Investigators to view the !
order Of nature in new light, to check 1
their speculations by appeal TO actual 4
phenomena rather than To a priori be-
ief as TO what facts ought TO be.
Darwin's results were great: his serv-
Ice in showing to the world the true
method and purpose Of investigation. and ]