THE ORIGIN OF LIFE 159 



by the writings of the contemporary philoso- 

 phers upon this theme, and the growth of 

 enlightenment from age to age can be traced 

 in the changing beliefs upon the subject. 

 The most beautiful tales of the mythologies of 

 ancient civilizations cluster round this subject 

 so mysteriously ingrained in the nature of the 

 mind, and great truths have been handed down 

 disguised "in those common legends of all races, 

 which deal with the origin of man upon the 

 earth. Fascinating as are many of these 

 attempts of the imagination and inner con- 

 sciousness to evolve such a scheme of organic 

 creation as might enable man more nobly to 

 worship this great mystery, none of them 

 appeal to the educated imagination so power- 

 fully as the actual picture which modern 

 science is revealing to our eyes, as a new and 

 natural revelation of the Infinite. 



The mystery is still there, and ever will 

 remain, but the steps by which the beauties 

 of creation were developed, and are still 

 developing, are becoming visible; and the 

 vision only fills every thoughtful mind with 

 greater reverence for a power and a glory 

 more fully revealed. No single creative act 

 could fill the mind with half the awe and 

 admiration evoked by this spectacle, in the 

 heavens and upon earth, of continuous 



