EXPERIMENTAL EVOLUTION LECT. 



ascertained fact is useless ; this must be kept in 

 mind. 



To return to our question, we may conclude that 

 no problem is out of man's reach : there is none he 

 may not grapple with, more or less successfully. 



But this notion, also, is a very modern one, and 

 while the many at present certainly disagree with it, 

 we do not require to go centuries back to find the 

 thinkers themselves of a different opinion on the 

 matter, and sharing the creed of the mass. 



This explains how it is that man has so long 

 delayed to investigate the problem of the present 

 day, which is the problem of the world. He con- 

 sidered the problem as admitting of no possible 

 investigation, and accepting the Scriptures as a 

 scientific text-book as well as a book of morals, he 

 even perceived no problem at all, and lived in quiet- 

 ness and repose. But some were at work, observ- 

 ing, comparing, and noting facts. Their names are 

 familiar to all, and the outcome of their diverse work 

 and tendencies broke upon the world in 1859. For 

 Darwin, while seemingly inquiring only about the 

 origin of cats and dogs, and pigeons, and their pro- 

 bable relationship with antecedent similar animals, 

 had opened new prospects. This was immediately 

 understood ; and behind the cats, clogs, pigeons, 

 swine, and cattle, all beheld a new system of the 



