ESSAY I 



THE LESSON OF EVOLUTION 



SCIENTIFIC men may be divided into two groups ; the 

 investigators of theory, and the reducers of theory to 

 practice. The workers in applied science have for 

 their aim the material advancement of the human 

 race. Not only do they bring health to the sick and 

 an increase of comfort to us all ; but they help to 

 make every -day work more interesting to the intelli- 

 gent, and thus they lift the toiler on to a higher level. 

 Also, by increasing the wealth of the world, they give 

 to some men sufficient leisure to pursue pure science 

 or philosophy undisturbed. 



On the other hand, the student of pure science 

 whether he be an astronomer engaged in studying the 

 movements and composition of the starry host, or 

 whether he be a humble entomologist he also has a 

 high object to attain beyond the facts he so indus- 

 triously gathers together. Consciously or uncon- 

 sciously he is helping to solve the riddle of the 

 Universe by collecting evidence which may, perhaps, 

 enable us to ascertain the laws which the Creator has 

 imposed upon his work. He is seeking the truth, 

 partly no doubt out of curiosity, but partly because 

 he feels that a knowledge of the truth is of the greatest 

 importance to the human race. We can never know 

 the whole truth about the Universe, but we may make 



A i 



