96 THE LAPSE OF TIME. 



which no unaided human eye could distinguish from 

 the dust on which we carelessly trample. To some 

 ears such a theory must sound wild and prepos- 

 terous beyond all the boundaries of sane and rational 

 thinking. And, in truth, no censure could be too 

 severe, no ridicule too keen for so extravagant a piece 

 of folly as this theory must be, if the old and still 

 prevailing notions about the age of the world have 

 any foundation in fact. It only begins to be reason- 

 able, if we can afford to stretch our notions of history 

 from the narrow margin of six thousand to the broader 

 field of six hundred thousand years, with an indefi- 

 nite past in the background. 



This vast lapse of time, as commensurate with the 

 existence of the inhabited globe, is essential to the 

 Theory of Development. It must be established, as 

 it has been, by independent evidence of its own, be- 

 fore it can give to that theory its absolutely necessary 

 support. But the Theory of Development in its turn 

 helps the mind to believe and realize this enormous 

 lapse of time, with its seemingly never-ending march 

 and flow, rank upon rank, wave upon wave, by find- 

 ing work and employment for all its almost measure- 

 less duration. It explains, as it were, why the drama 

 of life still goes on, why the play was not long ago 

 played out, and the curtain let fall upon all the busy 

 multitudinous actors. 



Time of itself does nothing ; but nothing can be done 

 without time. It is not a personal agent, but a neces- 

 sary condition. We cannot even think, much less rea- 



