70 The Higher Usefulness of Science 



aluminum and manganese, though exactly what that 

 attribute is was not discovered, for the investigators 

 have not determined what part each plays in making 

 the alloy magnetic. One investigator, we learn from 

 Chwolson (Traite de physique, t. 4, p. 883), has tried 

 to refer the magnetism of the alloy to the manganese, 

 but this is found unsatisfactory and Heusler himself 

 regards it as due to a chemical combination of a sort 

 peculiar to the metals. 



So here again, as in the production of water, we 

 have conclusive proof of the generative power of a com- 

 plex in its totality, but without knowing what part 

 each constituent plays. We are absolutely sure of 

 the competency of the whole to account for the phe- 

 nomenon presented, though this falls short of certainty 

 about the part played by the ultimate elements. 



But it is when we pass to the organic realm that the 

 truth of our statement of how we interpret generative 

 processes in nature stands out most boldly. Much has 

 been made in the modern era of interpreting man in the 

 light of his origin. This is good so far; but more 

 notice ought to be taken of the truth that in reality we 

 also interpret the origin of man in the light of what 

 he is. The general truth illustrated by this statement 

 will be made clear by familiar facts drawn from the 

 two fields of ontogenesis and phylogenesis, i. e., indi- 

 vidual development, and race development. That in 

 the actual laboratory work of studying ontogenies the 

 various stages are interpreted in the light of what is 



