Omaha daily bee., 1916-03-23
Many Mysteries Of Life
Can Be Solved by Man


TN REGARD TO the life history OF the earth Ques-
i tions are asked in letters which show that many
minds are attracted by this subject One wishes
know whether man. having arrived at his present
through many changes has now reached the top
OF his possible development whether he is not In
some unconscious way. being changed continuously
Another inquiries: How did animal life come into
existence? Where there any species developed
in the Quaternary age and there. could there
be. new species developed this future age?''
First the capital feature OF is his brain and
this has msnifesty been growing to relative size and
compexty OF organization for Of thousands and
probably hundreds OF thousands. OF years. Whether
assume that the mind is simply manifestation
OF the activity OF the brain. that the brain is only
instrument OF the mind the final result Ia the same
far the development OF mans physical form Is
concerned.
with better brain more mental power be
exercised On the other hand the mind. II It be some
thing acting upon and through the brain, may pro-
duce superior organization and stimulate growth and
development in the brain cells by ongcOntinued ae-
tion. ages It has shaping and improving its
tool and while the brain is the seat Of mental ac-
tion. It Is not the only part OF mans body that Is
affected and modified by the activity Of the mind
His features his limbs his muscles. his nerves his
vital functions all subject 20 mental influence
A high intelligence shows in the face. We do not
know how Shakespeare looked, for there is au-
thentic likeness OF him in existence, but NOR
ally certain that he did not look like brute a
thief or murderer That certainty based upon uni
versal experience 1t requires skill TO read the
minds construction in the face" but IL in
n large sense be done. There be question that
the general appearance OF the human race civil-
zation and intelligence have advanced. has changed
the better Exceptions do not alter the rule Back
sdings do not arrest the general advance; but the
latter Is. by Its nature slow We consciously
or unconscously. changing in looks and form well
In character. and the change IL upward Man In
the future will be a nobler being physically and men
tally than he is today. We have means Of fixing
limit 20 his possibilities of progress.
Second we cannot tell how animal life or for that
matter vegetable life came into existence. But II is
subject that has led to many fascinating specua-
tons. 1t has been assumed. for instance. that the
first germs OF life ultra microscopic T. e., toe
minute to be and studied by any instrument OF
science, and thus the beginnings of life to ua
miraculous. though in reality Il be the result OF
chemical and physical operations more mysteriouI
than any other operation Of nature
Come have assumed that life was started from ar
original germ by a special effort OF creative power
and after that left natural development ir
accordance with the needs Of its environment We dC
find from the study OF the rocks that the earliest t
forms were comparatively simple. and that tho
/ higher and complex forms have appeared grad
ualiy. and apparently always by evolution develop
| ment. from preceding forms. At the present time W,
| know Of life which does not spring from previ
| ousiy existing life. In other words we find nj
/
like Dr. Bastan, think that life Is actually deveopni
anew now. just as II has done in the past but that
above said. its elements below the range of
croscopic vision and of chemical experiment
New species have been coming into existence ever,
geologic age. but always, far see.
result OF changes and notifications in older ones
Many species have gone OF existence entirely
| Changes OF climate. etc. have been powerful factor
| In altering the forms OF life. We can watch tina
going under the influence OF changes pro
| duced by ourselves.
II we cannot produce absolutely species by ou
interference. produce many varieties an
| by intermixture many extraordinary forms. Look a
| what Luther Burbank has effected in this way. II
has found that there is 90 to speak. underworld
undeveloped forgotten forms and tendencies in tn
life forces Of this globe which be brought out
what seems like creations of beauty and useful
ness. He does not pretend to create forms
plants. but he finds that he manipulate old form
and bring about new combinations and encourage hit
den suppressed tendencies. that with sufficer
time and effort II might be possible TO reclothe IN
earth with garment OF vegetation far more sper
did than any IL has yet