Evening star., 1924-12-02
Defends Evolution.
Writer Replies to Critic Of DR.
Hrdlicka Speech.

Mr.. John Anschutz's questioning of
the scientific claim of evolution of
man which recently appeared on your
editorial page prompts me to say
few words in answer.
Mr. Anschutz accuses DIR. Hrdlicks
of claiming the origin of man from
the monkeys. DR. Hrdlicka neither
claimed nor even hinted that man
originated from the monkeys. He,
like the other scientists. who are
students of the subject, does claim
that man and the monkeys are the
descendants of the same progenitor,
who is now extinct.
Scientists usually illustrate the
facts they know to the layman by
analogies which convey to the latter.
although in most instances in an un-
satisfactory manner, the meaning of
some principle If / may be permitted,
for Mr.. Anschutzs benefit, shall
liken the life evolution to tree hav-
ing a single trunk. from which origi-
nate numerous branches in every d.
rection. Assuming that each particu-
lar direction about this imaginary
tree represents certain definite
characteristic. 1t is evidenA that every
twig and small branch belonging to
a large branch shall have the basic
characteristic common to every other
twig of that branch, as well as the
particular characteristics Sthat twig
may have in virtue of its exact df-
rectional location. Therefore a major
branch with all its minor branches
which, say, faces east shall have cer-
tain charac,istics which are not
manifested by all other branches that
do not face in that direction.
There is one branch in this tree
rising straight up, at the tip of which
is a twig representing man. In the
vicinity of this twig situated little
lower are a few twigs representing
several species of monkeys. / assumed
man to belong to that branch which
grows. upward, because the specific
characteristic in the upward direc-
tion l assume to be Intelligence"
Now every branch of tree tends to
grow upward so that the ultimate
twig of any branch is situated high
or up than any other twig of that
branch. Elephant. undoubtedly one
of the most intelligent of animals,
represents an end twig belonging to
one of those branches, in our evo1u-
tionary tree, that faces some direc-
tion other than upward, say west, so
that even though elephant is the
| most advanced of its own branch,
the basic characteristic of westward
ly direction is predominating and
such branch as a whole cannot under
ordinary circumstances, attain the
height of upward growing branch.
The scientists have placed each
twig representing species in it's
relative place in this evolutionary
tree not because of mere external ap-
pearances or similarities of behavior
of this species to the neighboring
species, but its place Is determined by
psychological, anatomical and en-
briologicai study thereof. Man Is
related to the monkeys. not because
monkeys act and look so much more
like man than any other animal. but
they act and look like man because
they, are related to him. In other
words the monkeys behavior and
morphosis are not the causes Of it's
relation to man, but they are the ef-
feet of the above mentioned causes,
which are the fundamentals.
Mr.. Anschutz's questions might as
well be: Why does one branch Of q
tree grow in. one direction and an
other branch in another direction?
Why does certain branch grow
higher than another? Why didn't one
particular twig grow UP at the exact
location of another twig? While exact
answers to these questions cannot be
given, yet scientists answer would
be natural causes" which may be
chemical, physical, environmental, etc
If Mr. Anschutz should study the sub
ject of evolution of life, or drop. over
to the New National Museum as DR..
Hrdlicka pleads, and examine the
evidence gathered therein instead Of
condemning this theory, he will have
at least an elementary knowledge OF
1t, and then if the evidence. does not
satisfy him his future criticisms will
have larger value.
OSMAN RAMSAY.