94 "fHE COMING OF MAN 



self with chemical and physical problems. Then life and con- 

 sciousness appeared in microscopic particles asking at first 

 only existence. The whole trend of Nature's forces seemed to 

 be toward a being which could digest and reproduce. All 

 else seems subsidiary or by-product. 



Gradually the world becomes an arena of struggling, fight- 

 ing brutes developing a tough, powerful body with keen sense 

 organs and sharp weapons. The forces of Nature seem to 

 combine in one grand resultant, compelling the highest ani- 

 mals to follow this Hne of march, every other road leads to 

 degeneration or extinction. 



Man became a thoroughly social being living in families, 

 villages and tribes, where mutual competition is replaced by 

 mutual helpfulness and affection. He is in a fair way to be- 

 come a highly intelligent, rational, moral and religious, spirit- 

 ual being. This is a revolution; old things are passing away, 

 all things are becoming new; but the change is very recent, 

 the revolution has only begun. Its completion is the only logi- 

 cal, rational, natural result of the whole history of animal 

 life; otherwise life is a " story told by an idiot, full of sound 

 and fury, signifying nothing;" a ^' march from the inane to 

 the inane." 



Nature, still maintaining physical power and vigor, has un- 

 masked herself, and shows a very stout countenance set on 

 righteousness. But man is still in a very immature nonage 

 and learns exceedingly slowly. He halts between two courses 

 or worlds, an outgrown past and an unattained future. In 

 developing personality Nature had to loosen the curb of her 

 rein and leave man to learn by hard experience how to con- 

 trol himself. He learns very slowly. His hardest work is to 

 put down his own mutiny and rebellion against his better 

 self. 



Nature has set her vigorous, energetic, highly endowed child 

 free to choose and act for himself, has made him her partner, 

 in a sense her vice-regent; has given him all things freely to 

 use and enjoy. Like many other heirs to wealth for which 

 they have not toiled, man turns ungratefully, abuses and ex- 



