EVOLUTION THE MASTER-KEY 



there is little satisfaction for us. Whether the 

 cosmos is tending towards universal and final 

 death, or whether there is to be eternal re-formation 

 and ceaseless re-attack upon the weary ascent 1 

 the whole business seems futile and vain. But I 

 sometimes wonder whether in First Principles or in 

 the modern theory of entropy sufficient allowance 

 is made for the influence of human intelligence upon 

 the evolutionary process. M. Maeterlinck, at any 

 rate, with his brilliant daring, is little concerned 

 about a solar catastrophe. Postpone it for a cen- 

 tury or two, he says, and man will have learned 

 to control gravitation and steer his planet where 

 he will. And, though one does not quite see how 

 such power could avail us much, considering the 

 long journey through inconceivable cold to the 

 nearest fixed star, yet we will do well, in predicting 

 the future of matter and motion, not to deem im- 

 potent the factor of mind. 



1 See chapter vi. 



