THE PATH OF EVOLUTION 



tion, forming again carbon dioxide and water, during 

 which action the energy thus liberated raises other 

 parts to the higher plane of life's phenomena, to the 

 functional exercise of the various organs of the 

 body, "and to the manfestation of consciousness and 

 will. 



Thus the lowest forms of life the Monera of 

 Haeckle have parted upon their separate paths. One 

 form, whose destiny it is to become the plant, the 

 food provider, the ultimate mother of energy to all 

 who will have consciousness in life, will remain itself 

 as little conscious, or even less so, than before. The 

 other, whose paths will divide, redivide and subdivide 

 again and again, on land, in water and in the air;to 

 whom the mechanism has been or will be given in 

 its brain to bring into being part of that energy as 

 thought and will that existed in the source from 

 whence all came; will lead a life of exertion, of care 

 and trouble, of pleasure and of pain. 



The course of evolution, from the lower creature 

 to the higher one, requires the exercise of all the 

 faculties. Hunger must be felt by animals and food 

 must be sought for; at first an easy task, but as 

 numbers increase more and more difficult. Starva- 

 tion and disease would thin their numbers, but in 

 doing so all would suffer and the race deteriorate. 

 The introduction of the Carnivora saves from this 

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