FACTORS OF ORGANIC EVOLUTION 35 



The universe is an evolution. Change is as 

 extensive as time and space. The present has 

 come out of that which has been, and will enter 

 into and determine that which is to be. Every- 

 thing has a biography. Everything has evolved — 

 everything — from the murmur on the lips of the 

 speechless babe to the soul of the poet, and from 

 the molecule to Jehovah. 



VIII. The Factors of Organic Evolution. 



The animal kingdom represents one of the two 

 grand branches of the organic universe. It has 

 been evolved — evolved in a manner as simple and 

 straightforward as it is revolting. It has all been 

 brought about by partiality or selection. Genera- 

 tions of beings have come into existence. The 

 individual rriembers of each generation have 

 differed from each other — differed in size, strength, 

 speed, colour, shape, sagacity, luck, and likelihood 

 of life. No two beings, not even those born from 

 the same womb, are in all respects identical. 

 Hardships have come. They have come from 

 the inanimate universe in the form of floods, fires, 

 frosts, accidents, diseases, droughts, storms, and 

 the like; from other species, who were competitors 

 or enemies ; and from unbrotherly members of 

 the same species. Some have survived, but the 

 great majority have perished. Only a fraction, 

 and generally an appallingly small fraction, of 

 each generation of a species have lived to maturity. 

 The lobster lays 10,000 eggs in a season, yet the 

 mortality is such that the number of lobsters do 



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