430 CELL INTELLIGENCE THE CAUSE OF EVOLUTION 



animals and plants. After swimming around for some 

 months, they finally decide to build and settle down in 

 permanent habitations, like plants and stationary animals 

 in the bottom of the sea. They anchor their bodies and 

 colonies to solid objects ; they move about and have or- 

 gans of locomotion like other animals. The movements 

 of the cell are never without a purpose, any more than 

 are the movements of other animals. The cells dart 

 about with both speed and skill in pursuit of other cells 

 and other objects for food. They are careful to avoid 

 each other, unless they attack and seize each other as prey 

 for food. Their movements are clearly voluntary and 

 intelligent. Some have paddles, some have tails and some 

 have other mechanisms for propulsion ; their methods 

 vary just as methods vary among animals. 



When we comprehend correctly what life is, that all 

 plants and animals are the productions of an invisible in- 

 telligent being, it is then easy to understand it. It is 

 impossible for us to do the work of the cell just as it is 

 impossible for the cell to do our work. We can, however, 

 understand what the mind of the cell is, from our own 

 mind. The cell has the same problems to solve as man. 

 Matter and force are the same everywhere in the uni- 

 verse ; they affect the cell as they do man. To direct the 

 blind forces and to form crude matter so as to best sub- 

 serve his purpose, are the problems of the cell as well 

 as those of man. The amoeba must provide himself with 

 food, and have material with him ready at hand at all 

 times, with which he may cover his nakedness when nec- 

 essary. The power to select and carry the raw material 

 that will instantly harden into a flinty armour when 

 spread around his body is a great discovery and a knowl- 

 edge which must be passed on from one generation to 

 the other. 



