The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1924-03-21
Studying the Cycle
of Life

By MORRIS SCHULTZ
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DROF. CYRUS STRONG looked into
l. his test tube with amazed salts
faction of one who sees the dream OF
q lifetime realized.
Eighty years DID, he was still strong
and active. He had lived recluse for
many years, devoted wholly to one
purpose.
He believed that Il was possible to
create IRE by q chemical admlxture
OF certain elements In water contain
Ing sodium and calcium chloride.
And a year before he had accom-
plished IL. He had seen the solution
Of sterile water become infused with
swarming animalculae.
From these he had built up higher
order of multicelluar organisms. Star
cGh and minute sponges had appeared,
the creation of his will.
But II these things, why not mani
On that he had concentrated; and
new this miracle WAS being accom-
plished before his eyes.
Well, why not? Man had evolved
kEOn lOWcT IOIInS VI llAcy why ~Vo'N
he not evolve in the test tube?
And 1t was happening, and with in
credible rapidly AS he watched he
saw the vegetable produce the animal;
he saw the tiny reproduction OF the
extinct saurian evolve into the rodent;
the rodent became the monkey, the
primitive long-tailed monkey swinging
grotesquely from the tiny twig that lay
afoat In the water. II was gilled
monkey, but now the lungs came into
existence, and the little creature
scrambled out OF the water upon the
piece of rock-minute rock within the
tube, and sat summing itself In the
glow OF the electric light.
And even this was changing. The
hair fell from the body, the limbs
heightened, the chin appeared, the
jaws receded. the hair Of head became
long and flowing.
And woman stood on the rock, look
ing about her in wonderment, as Eve
might have stood in Paradise.
A tiny woman. not more than three
inches long, but perfectly formed. IL
was primeyal woman. WITH warm,
golden-brown skin, and the glance OF
intelligence In the brown e"es. no
larger than the heads or pins
Cyrus Strong, doctor of lnnnncr-
able colleges and with honorary lie
grees from innumerabls universities
had produced human life.
For hours he sat watching the little
creature, whom he had transferred to
a larger Enclosure, little sphere NJ
glass. filled with air under light pres
sure. Therein he had provided tiny
hut, with straw, there was cool water
for drinking and supply Of deli
cate paste containing all the necessary
ingredients for life.
1t was like a god presiding over Gre
alton, and it was extraordinary to see
how the woman adapted herself TO her
environment. She drank, she ate, and
every few minutes she would retire
within the hut and sleep for thirty Sec
onds or so. That was the strangest
part Of 1t to the professor. Her vital
processes seemed extraordinarily &C
tolerated.
Suddenly the tiniest Of pipings
came from the tiny hut. Out she came
running, and after her there came-s
spider, which had somehow found en-
trance unperceived. A monster half her
size, now stalking her. film Of thread
dangling from its horrid mouth, EVIL
IDENTIFY intent upon meal.
Instantly the professor dipped in
finger and thumb and removed the
monster.
The woman sank to the ground. and
suddenly-how it touched him If this
was not prayer, instructive prayer, IL
was uncommonly like 1t.
His finger and thumb, he recognized,
constituted miracle, the first miracle
Of this paradise.
He wondered If the woman were
lonely. He must create more Of these
little people. He had no control over
sex. but on the morrow he would make
them. Then he would watch the In
crease OF his little community, would
see them progress through barbarism
to civilization he grew en-
thusiastic.
But now a great sadness came over
him. What right had he to call them
into life after ALI Was life such a
boon? He swayed in his mind, unde-
cided and then he noticed
that the little woman did not look quite
the same as before.
She was changing, she was ageing.
her hair was growing white. She grew
feebler In her movements and pres
emily she sank to the ground; thrill ,
ran through her she died.
A whole life cycle of little more than
an hour. Professor Strong sighed with
relief His problem was solved. He
,xro1,ld nr.o a M mora human