The New York herald., 1920-01-04

to the future, tn. whole growing like a lu1ur-
ant tree.
Such a theory tending to enlarge ones IDEAS
of the majesty and omniscience OF the Deity is
far more logical than the narrow ecclesiastical
views which prevailed in the last century and
actually belittled God to suit anthropomorphc,
Observation-Disclosures psgan-conceptions But
Haecke ignoring the majestic scheme OF the
divine plan whose material processes Darwin
and Wallace had explained. descended into
atheism Because he could not see God through
his microscope he denied the existence OF the
Deity Because the soul was not to he analyzed
no spiritual essence.
Locke. long before had shown the fulacy
OF Haeckel's materialism when he proclaimed
"the impossibility OF senseless matter putting
in sense" And our modern philosopher never
reached the height OF thought attained by
Aristotle more than two thousand years earlier
in his conception OF the eternal Mind from
which all things proceed With him the higher
sentiments were but modes Of motion. love
and hate merely etherealized mechanical at
traction and ropusion.
For Haeckel the union OF man and woman
was but higher form OF chemical combina-
ton. like that OF hydrogen and chlorine in
hydrochlorc acid. Self-interest dictated by
material needs was to him the sole incentive
to human action. Nevertheless. ne did realize
beauty Of form. and of his descriptions
Of shells and life are fun OF vivid appre-
citation. He was an excellent judge OF color
values. and showed great skill with oils and
water colors. illustrating many OF his
works. He also had keen sense of humor,
sincere alta chment to relatives and friends and
e deep sympathy with the poor-qualities some
what at variance with his pessimistic and
soul denying theories.
But "a mans man for a that and Il would
be very unjust to attempt to conceal or gloss
over Ernst Hseckers better qualities. He never
sought applause or fortune. and research was
his chief ambition. So little did he care for
personal gain that when he had mastered tho
science of medicine and begun practice in rer-
lin against his own inclination. he discouraged
patients with the notice OFFICE hours from
to 6 A. NJ"
That was in 1857. when he was twenty-thrse
years old From Berlin he went to italy and
began his geological Investigations which soon
attracted wide attention, as a result OF which
he was offered tutorsh,p i'm Jena. where he
settled in 1861. and taught continuously for forty
eight years, until his retirement his sevent>-
fifth birthday. February16. 1919 He was chosen
professor of comparative anatomy at the uni
versity in 1862 and director OF the Geological
institute in the same year In 1850 chair ~
zoology was established for him with the
munificent salary OF 1876 a year. which. how
ever. suffced for his modest wants. For his
great book. The Riddle Of the Universe 1t
is said he never received a cent and his labor
Gus report the, famous Challenger eNpedi-
ton. which he wrote in English. brought him
nothing but the satisfaction OF good gork
well done. which. however, to man Of SCI
entifc leanings is a greater compensation than
any pecunisry reward.
Let US not forget the services which Haeckel
has rendered to science. Much Of our knowl-
edge of corroborative facts of evolution is
due to his patient research. When II is recol
lected that a single fossil found in wro"o