Nature of the Universe 19 



Only a minute fraction of the universe, it appears, 

 has as yet brought forth life. The elementary con- 

 stituents of the universe, it is certain, are of such a 

 nature that they can and do bring forth life when 

 combined in certain ways. But in only a very small 

 proportion of them have these combinations thus far 

 been formed. Even on our earth, it is but a thin rind 

 that has brought forth life. And, according to the 

 views of some modern astronomers, the conditions for 

 life seem to be present in but few of the heavenly 

 bodies. Yet since the constituents of the universe are 

 of a nature to produce life when rightly combined, 

 the remainder, or some part of the remainder, need 

 but enter into such combinations in order to bring 

 forth life on a vaster scale than has yet occurred. 



But it is not the present quantity of life, nor even 

 its unending continuance, that is the chief interest 

 for our outlook on the world. Rather is the interest 

 in the nature of the processes that occur in the living 

 material. What is development.? What sort of things 

 are taking place in the development of living beings ? 

 Is development a bringing forth of things that are 

 new, or is it the mere operation of a machine .^^ Is the 

 living world embarking on a new adventure, or is it 

 merely treading a mill, following a pattern that exists 

 beforehand .f^ Are the heights to which life rises in 

 evolution new heights not before reached, or does 

 there already exist something higher, an ultimate 

 goal toward which it is all tending.? These are ques- 



