92 THE PROBLEM OF EVOLUTION 



I earnestly ask you all to observe the time, and not 

 to be offended if I hold my watch in my hand, and 

 request each speaker to stop, as soon as his time has 

 elapsed. Further, I ask you all to accept my ruling 

 otherwise it is impossible to control a debate of 

 this kind. 



I notice that a longer time is assigned to Father 

 Wasmann, as he has to answer all the objections 

 brought against him. His reply will close the 

 proceedings. The list of speakers cannot be aug- 

 mented, and each is allowed to speak once only. 1 



I will now declare the debate open, and call first 

 upon Professor Plate to speak. 2 



I. PROFESSOR PLATE'S SPEECH. 



I have often been in this hall, but I have never 

 before seen such a sight here as I now behold. As 

 a rule, entertainments are given here, or the good 

 ladies of the West End assemble here to drink coffee, 

 but, to-day, we are to consider the most serious 

 questions. Father Wasmann of the Society of 

 Jesus cast a spark into the Berlin world, which 



1 The Vossische Zeitung, in giving a report of the discussion, naively 

 emphasises the fact that, of the general public, no one rose to speak on 

 Wasmann's side. 



2 The speeches of my opponents are not reported word for word, with 

 the exception of Dr. Juliusburger's, but only so as to show their drift, as 

 far as it was essential to a due comprehension of the discussion. 



The Deutsche Tageszeitung and other papers have given detailed accounts 

 of the views expressed by my opponents. 



