190 THE NEANDERTHAL SKULL. 



this bold avowal of Materialistic Atheism 

 in its most objectionable form, Professor 

 Tholuck has wisely remarked " If a man 

 is a Materialist, we Germans think he is. 

 not educated." Possibly Professor Haeckel 

 may have been closely studying " Shake- 

 speare," when he delivered himself of such 

 nonsense that "worms were our direct 

 ancestors ; " or have been supping off that 

 historic worm mentioned in Hamlet, 

 already referred to ; and which I repeat for 

 the fun of the thing, as the only possible 

 solution of HaeckeFs wild theory " Your 

 worm is your only emperor for diet : 

 we fat all creatures else to fat us, and we 

 fat ourselves for maggots." 



Leaving Professor Haeckel in the midst 

 of his materialistic slough, I return to 

 Professor Huxley, and having considered 

 his views as to the Origin of Life, I notice 

 briefly what he says respecting the 

 ANTIQUITY OF MAN. On this point the 

 wildness of sceptics in general and 

 Professor Huxley in particular, exceeds, if 

 possible, their wild speculations respecting 



