170 LEISURE-TIME STUDIES. 



has been, according to astronomical deductions, evolved 

 from fiery vapours, and has settled down into its present 

 prosaic state from a primitive nebulous condition, we must 

 also conceive of definite beginnings of life having taken 

 place. Science accordingly inquires how this primeval 

 vitality originated ; whence it came ; and through what con- 

 ception or theory its beginning may be legitimately realised. 

 In answer to these natural queries, more than one 

 suggestion or theory may be offered. Many, for example, 

 will prefer the belief in a creative fiat which in the beginning 

 created the varied forms of life, and left them to exercise 

 their productive vitality through succeeding ages. Once 

 created, life is thus regarded as capable of producing life ad 

 infinitum. There is no need to assume the occurrence of 

 new creations in this hypothesis, the first springs of created 

 vitality having swollen in the course of ages into mighty 

 streams with numberless offshoots and branches. Others 

 profess to discredit such a theory of the genesis of life on 

 the ground that it implies a break in the uniformity and 

 unbroken sequence of nature. A creative effort is hence 

 regarded as a break in an otherwise continuous cycle. 

 Hence the supporters of the second theory regard inorganic 

 or non-living matter as potentially containing in the present, 

 as it did in the past, the principles and essence of vitality. 

 Life results, they say, from some subtle and inexplicable 

 conversion of the non-living into the living. When the 

 earth attained a stage of permanency of form and composi- 

 tion, its own matter evolved living things, and as this power 

 is regarded as having existed in the past, why, it is asked, 

 should we object to extend its operations into the present? 

 The lower forms of life may thus, it is believed, originate in 

 the present from non-living matter, and spring spontaneously 

 into vitality. And as a sequel to this belief in the un- 

 broken sequence which connects the living and the non- 

 living world, it is maintained that from lower forms of life, 

 and by a like process of evolution, beings of higher grade 

 may be duly developed. There are some scientists who, 



