6 MODERN IDEAS OF EVOLUTION 



rapid motion that it changes its features momentarily 

 while one endeavours to sketch it. 



Why then attempt such a task ? The answer is 

 two-fold general and personal. First, the world of 

 general readers is captivated, dazzled and perplexed 

 by the new philosophy, and greatly needs some clear 

 and intelligible exposition of its nature and tendency, 

 some classification of its variations, and some attempt 

 to explain its agreement or discordance with science 

 and religion. Secondly, the writer of the following 

 pages has of late years been besieged by so many 

 letters and inquiries respecting this subject, to which 

 he has incidentally referred in popular books on 

 science, that it becomes necessary in self-defence and 

 to save time to prepare an answer which may meet 

 all demands of this kind. 



The conclusions which he has reached as the result 

 of much reading and reflection, as well as of a 

 long-continued and somewhat wide and varied study 

 of nature, may not satisfy the present excitement of 

 enthusiastic specialists and lovers of novelty, but they 

 may serve somewhat to mitigate present extremes of 

 feeling and belief, and may accord with the sober 

 second thoughts which sometimes follow sudden revo 

 lutions. 



J. W. D. 

 1890. 



