344 IN STARRY REALMS. 



the immortal voyage of Columbus. In each case 8 new 

 world was discovered. 



When the voyage of the Beagk was planned, the 

 captain expressed a wish that some scientific observer 

 should join the expedition. A young naturalist, eager to 

 see the glories of the tropics, volunteered his services and 

 was accepted. He sailed in the ship. For the whole five 

 years he diligently sought every opportunity to gain a 

 knowledge of nature. He pondered on that knowledge 

 when he came home. He added to it by further observa- 

 tion and matured it by careful thought. After many 

 years of labour and of thought the naturalist of the Beagle 

 produced a book. The name of the book was the 

 " Origin of Species/' the name of the author was Charles 

 Darwin. 



The " Origin of Species " appeared when I was a 

 student in college, and I can recall at this day the intense 

 delight with which I read it. I was an instantaneous con- 

 vert to the new doctrines, and I have felt their influence 

 during all my subsequent life. And here let me hasten to 

 anticipate an objection. It is in the domain of natural 

 history that the great achievements of Darwin have been 

 wrought. It might be urged that the discussion of such 

 a subject lay within the province of biologists or of geolo- 

 gists, but could hardly be considered a legitimate enter- 

 prise for those whose studies led them in other directions. 

 But this is a view from which I dissent. I cannot admit 

 the " Origin of Species " to be the exclusive property of 

 biologists. In a more extensive view of the subject it 

 will be seen that the great doctrine of Evolution is of the 

 very loftiest significance, and soars far above the distinc- 



