Man in the Light of Evolution 



The present and tangible are very real to us. 

 The enjoyments which they offer have been tested 

 and found excellent again and again in past ex- 

 perience. Imagination continually represents 

 them before us. Over against these the advan- 

 tages of future attainments of untried powers 

 seem dim and unreal. They cannot be appre- 

 ciated until the experiment of exercising them 

 has been thoroughly tried. The first attempts 

 made in the face of old habits and at the loss 

 of present ease and comfort, are likely to pro- 

 duce friction, discomfort, and vexation. Then 

 life is an experiment and the future is always 

 uncertain. The goal is far off and unattainable. 

 Our highest possibilities can be realized to only 

 a small extent. May we not hope that, after all, 

 evolution will bring survival and progress to all 

 alike, fit and unfit, without our effort? Is it 

 worth while to struggle? Many very "prac- 

 tical " people say, " Decidedly it is not worth 

 while." 



" We have had enough of action and of motion we. 



« 



Let us swear an oath, and keep it with an equal mind 

 In the hollow Lotos-land to live and lie reclined 

 On the hills like Gods together, careless of mankind. 



178 



