THE ANTIQUITY OF MAX. 



209 



draw the conclusion that there is but one species of men, and that the 

 differences existing between them are only differences of race. Again 

 I say, in reaching this conclusion, we have never gone beyond science. 

 I repeat this declaration, because, in all that I shall say to you, I wish 

 you distinctly to understand that I never put foot outside the domain 

 of science, where alone the scientific man can speak with. authority. 



The unity of the human species once demonstrated, many problems 

 arise before us. 



The first is that of the antiquity of man. Have men been always 

 upon the earth ? Did they appear at the same time with the other 

 species of animals ? Are they very ancient on the globe ? Such are 

 the first questions which present themselves to our minds. 



Throughout all time have men lived on the earth ? Many of you, 



Fig. 1. 



Extinct Elephant, or Mammoth. 



doubtless, are already able to answer me. My brother professors of 

 geology and paleontology have probably addressed you on these ques- 

 tions. I shall only recall to you the general facts bearing upon the 

 case. 



You all know what is the action of heat upon certain bodies. For 

 example, you all know that water heated to a certain degree vapor- 

 izes ; that if this vapor loses a certain quantity of heat, it is liquefied ; 

 that in losing still more, it forms a solid body ice. This ice may 

 become so solid, that in St. Petersburg they have been able to con- 

 struct it into palaces, and have made cannons of ice that have been 

 fired. You can understand that a sufficient quantity of heat will re- 

 duce all bodies to vapor, and that sufficient cold will solidify them. 



Now, the facts of astronomy seem to prove that, of old, our earth, 

 14 



