LESSONS OF EVOLUTION 625 



tion, but there is nothing absurd or morbid, for instance, 

 in humbly learning to know more about the endless things 

 of beauty which are joys for ever. If we make sure of 

 these, the euphoria will look after itself. 



It is surely for the guidance of youth to recognise that 

 at levels far below Man's there is an enhancing of physical 

 fondness by aesthetic embroideries and emotional tenderness, 

 and the sobering of all by a working together of mates in 

 the discharge of parental duties. 



It is surely for the guidance of all to realise the extent 

 to which animal life rises above a struggle around the platter 

 of subsistence, and illustrates the raw material, at least, of 

 domestic virtues. We cannot believe that animals " think 

 the ought ", so that in the strict sense the ethical note is not 

 sounded, but when we consider their expenditure of energy 

 towards results that are other-regarding not self -regard ing, 

 we seem to hear an ethical undertone. In any case it is 

 not from Natural History that we learn the " Might is Right " 

 doctrine. 



7. Science for Life. 



Let us sum up the general argument. 



(1) There is no doubt whatever that many of the human 

 shadows that blot out the sun and make our feet stumble 

 are gratuitous, and may be got rid of whenever man pleases. 

 That this condition, " whenever man pleases ", is not easily 

 fulfilled we are well aware. But there is no doubt that we 

 can get rid of many social handicaps, and go on to higher 

 adventures, discovering more and more of the goodness of 

 God in the land of the living. 



A hundred years ago people shuddered at the name ' Gaol- 

 fever ', a terrible pestilence, which attacked judge and jury, 



