Evening star., 1925-07-04

".
The foregoing chapters of this
series have outlined the basis OF the
theory of evolution and the proofs
of its validity offered by its sponsors,
These considerations have been con-
fined to their accounts of what hap
pened, rather than why IL happened.
1t is the efforts to answer the ques-
ton of why and how which have
given the theory wider and wider
implications and have enmeshed 1t in
social and ethical considerations of a
widely popular range.
Charles Darwin wrote 1.-The Origin
of Species" in 1859. While in this
book he expounded fully his revolu-
tionary theory, it was not until he
published THE Descent of Man" in
1871, that the full significance of his
doctrine was realized and the great
controversy which rocked England
was precipitated. Contemporary with
Darwin were Huxley, Spencer, Wal
lace, Tyndall and other great scien-
lists, and their names. in the battle
which ensued, became almost as
familiar in England as that of Babe
Ruth in America today. The evolu-
tionists were formidably assailed by
all the conservative intellectual forces
of England. The church marshaled
its battalions, under the leadership OF
it's great dignitarieS, and the tradt-
tional academic forces of the univer'
sites were arrayed against the new
doctrine.
Darwin Becomes Popular.
The stately old Contemporary Re
view became the Madison Square Gar
den of the encounter. The debate car
ried on in this journal between Huxley
and Gladstone is perhaps the greatest
record of controversial literature in
the English language. Huxley was not
only a great scientist, but a great
stylist, and presented his case with
a degree of lucidity and power which
no doubt largely accounts for the
wide range of popular interest in eyo-
luton during the eighties and nineties
of the last century.
While Darwin had done a thorough
piece Of work, it is doubtful whether
the main essentials of his teaching
would have gotten into the popular
vernacular-as they did-had 1t not
been for this resounding controversy.
Among these essentials there are two
of primary Importance. They are the
theory of natural selection, and the
survival of the fittest.
The theory of natural selection is
the nearest approach to an answer
which the evolutionistS can give to
the demand of the fundamentalists for
q theory of causation."
Natural selection proceeds from the
evolutionists' definition of life as "a
continuous adjustment Of internal to
external relations" internal rela'
tions" means the organism and Eek
ternal relations" it's environment. In
this continuous adjustment is found
the immediate, but not the final, cause
of change.
Reason for Changes.
Nature spawns numberless crea.
lures. She is not interested in indi-
viduals, but in type. Among many
millions of such creatures, through
periods of time, there are organisms
which show some variations in phys
ical structure. These are called
sports" Some great change of en-
vironment, such as the drying UP of a
lake, or a glacial movement, may com
pei new adaptations-that is, some
adjustment or change of structure OF
function which will enable the organ
ism to live under the new conditions
In this upheaval few of the adapt
able sports" survive, and their su
perior equipment is transmitted to
their descendants new species ap
pears. But great changes of environ
ment are not the only drive toward
such adaptation and survival Small
land animals may be attacked by
enemies. Many will perish, but some
few who have long fingers or toes will
take refuge in trees. Immediately
this is an important detail-their sur