38 De ViPhysica 



power of his own principle, instead of reflect- 

 ing on the power of misrepresentation which 

 was no misrepresentation at all. For 



A. Though a single line at the tail of 

 the Introduction was no doubt in a most 

 conspicuous position, there was. another place, 

 far more conspicuous, which unfortunately 

 did not occur to him the title-page ; on 

 which we read, in large capitals, on all 

 editions of his book, the words : On the 

 Origin of Species, BY MEANS OF NATURAL 

 SELECTION. What does this mean? It 

 means, as every page of his book shows, 

 that Natural Selection was Darwin's trump 

 card, his great idea, his passport to immor- 

 tality. Yet here we find him adopting a 

 tone of injured innocence, because, with 

 absolute justice, people judge him by his 

 great idea. The thing is utterly prepos- 

 terous. He announces " Natural Selection," 

 and the world falls in adoration at his feet : 



