Proofs of Evolution. 295 



man-like in form and function, his language a jumble of 

 incoherent noises, his moral sense yet undeveloped, killing 

 and eating all he could overpower. From this field of vision, 

 we can see little difference between our potential man and 

 his fellows of the forest. 



Some Avill ask, and do ask: ''At just what point and 

 under what circumstances, did the direct line of man begin ? "' 

 And, " If it occurred once, why may it not occur again in 

 the myriads of life-forms continually appearing upon the 

 earth ? " To the first query the answer must be, there is 

 no such point. Evolution is but a shading and a becoming. 

 But there were certainly civcimi stances which led to the line 

 of man, and these are not hard to imagine with the factors 

 of evolution in view, and highly favoring conditions super- 

 added. 



Let it be remembered that a rugged environment neces- 

 sitating marked changes through the use or disuse of organs, 

 together with the ever-continuing struggle for existence, 

 perpetuating the strongest and best under the law of hered- 

 ity, are the great forces in Morphological development. 



Once more, let us go back to the common ancestors of 

 Man and the Anthropoid, and watch these primitive chil- 

 dren as they start out together, some in one direction, some 

 in another, their dispersion extending over broad territories 

 during thousands of years, until at last they find themselves 

 in utterly dissimilar environments ; the one condition un- 

 favorable, the other highly favorable to progressive develop- 

 ment. Let us suppose the favored ones found themselves 

 in the midst of circumstances not requiring tree-climbing, 

 either for food or for safety. Naturally, they would begin 

 to use their fore-paws for food-gathering, and for throwing 

 missiles at enemies. This habit would gradually throw the 

 weight of the body more and more on the back-feet, leaving 

 the arms and upper part of the body free for the various 

 actions required. In time, adaj^tive changes would occur 

 in the direction of an upright and flexible spine, and greater 

 utility in the use of the arms. These changes, slight from 

 generation to generation, in the aggregate would give us the 

 hand of man, "which supplies all instruments, and gives- 

 him universal dominion." As Darwin remarks, "It accords 

 with the principle of the division of physiological labor^ 

 which prevails throughout the animal kingdom, that, as tlie 

 hands become perfected for prehension, the feet should 



