The Survival of iJie Fittest 



The mammals who kept on laying eggs lost 

 so many young that nearly all of them have be- 

 come extinct. Birds and reptiles hunted the de- 

 fenseless mammal until they taught him to be- 

 come agile and wary. Carnlvora developed. 

 Life became very unsafe for all Inhabitants of 

 the ground. Some sought safety In flight, some 

 in holes In the ground. Our ancestors were slow 

 of foot, and could not or would not dig; they 

 had to climb. Very probably they had some In- 

 nate aptitude In this direction. But, morally 

 speaking, the carnlvora " boosted " them Into 

 the trees by eating up all those who remained on 

 the ground. 



Nature's system of education Is very simple. 

 She puts the animal under conditions where It 

 must die or form the habit which will Insure the 

 exercise of the highest powers and the develop- 

 ment of the highest organs. Many fail and die. 

 Some at least form the right habits and attain 

 the next higher stage. Here again the same 

 process Is repeated. 



Such a system of education Is severe and un- 

 sparing. Just when our ancestors were begin- 

 ning to reap and enjoy the advantages of muscle, 

 she urged them on to develop a skeleton. They 



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