SELECTION ON MAN. 325 



mentary organisms), could remain unchanged and live, 

 amid the universal change around it. 



At length, however, there came into existence a 

 being in whom that subtle force we term mind, be- 

 came of greater importance than his mere bodily struc- 

 ture. Though with a naked and unprotected body, 

 this gave him clothing against the varying inclemen- 

 cies of the seasons. Though unable to compete with 

 the deer in swiftness, or with the wild bull in strength, 

 this gave him weapons with which to capture or over- 

 come both. Though less capable than most other ani- 

 mals of living on the herbs and the fruits that unaided 

 nature supplies, this wonderful faculty taught him to 

 govern and direct nature to his own benefit, and make 

 her produce food for him, when and where he pleased. 

 From the moment when the first skin was used as 

 a covering, when the first rude spear was formed to 

 assist in the chase, when fire was first used to cook his 

 food, when the first seed was sown or shoot planted, 

 a grand revolution was effected in nature, a revolu- 

 tion which in all the previous ages of the earth's his- 

 tory had had no parallel, for a being had arisen who 

 was no longer necessarily subject to change with the 

 changing universe a being who was in some degree 

 superior to nature, inasmuch as he knew how to con- 

 trol and regulate her action, and could keep himself 

 in harmony with her, not by a change in body, but 

 by an advance of mind. 



Here, then, we see the true grandeur and dignity 

 of man. On this view of his special attributes, we 



