Descent of Man 311 



We have noted that many forms which appear in the 

 very old geological record, continue to the present day with 

 comparatively small change, as, for example, the arthro- 

 poda whose modern representatives show some species little 

 advanced from those of paleozoic times. And below these 

 in the scale, there are now living many one-celled creatures, 

 of a simplicity of organization which must be regarded as 

 little above the beginning. When we are looking to these 

 early forms for light upon the subject of the origin of 

 species we soon frame a question. Are these elementary 

 organisms perpetually newly created, or are they per- 

 sisting old forms? Is it possible that the laws of evolution 

 still inspire matter with life in its most elemental condition, 

 when certain combinations supervene? We are almost en- 

 tirely ignorant of life simpler than the single organized 

 cell, but our ignorance is no evidence of its non-existence. 

 On the contrary we have proof of a life, by its results, which 

 is entirely outside of our power of sensory observation, by 

 microscope or otherwise. Therefore if life were now so 

 evolving in matter, in single colloid units of a few hundreds 

 or thousands of chemical molecules, they would not be per- 

 ceived by us until they had achieved a larger organization; 

 even if their sphere of activity were one of which we have 

 cognizance. On the other hand if there arose only once, the 

 combination of matter and of the fiat of life, from which 

 all existing life is derived, and which has now become im- 

 possible of repetition, because of cessation of necessary 

 conditions — all of which may be — then we would still be 

 unable to know whether the fundamental form persisted 

 pure. It is quite conceivable that protoplasm might continue 



