A THREE-FOLD DEVELOPMENT. 



A STUDY IN KVOLUnON. 



BY H. C. POWERS. 



In choosing as a subject for my paper, the theory of 

 evolution or development by modification of one form or 

 condition from a previously existing one, I shall assume 

 the truth of the doctrine. I have used as a title for what 

 I shall offer, "A Three-fold Development," and shall use 

 as a first term for my trinity the development of the in- 

 organic matter composing this world since it first took 

 form and shape as we know it. It was then a glowing 

 mass of planetary material. At first, and for an almost 

 infinite time afterward, life of any kind could have had 

 no existence on its heated surface. After aeons of time 

 had passed away life appeared, first in the water and 

 later on the land. Evolution, ruling living organic be- 

 ings as it had the inorganic matter before, developed by 

 slight and slow modification of previous forms all plant 

 and animal life that have since existed. This shall be the 

 second term of my three-fold development. Finally a 

 development in brain and intelligence brought about a 

 still more wonderful advance, culminating in the civil- 

 ized man of today. This shall be the third term of my 

 theme. 



There are two things necessary to life, heat and 

 moisture. Agreeing in this statement, we must believe 

 that life had its beginning in water. This belief is made 

 necessary by the fact that there must have been life in 

 the old primordial oceans myriads of years before there 

 was any soil above the waters that could have sustained 

 life. All soil has been formed by the action of water, 

 either as waves and surf, beating against a rocky shore, 

 grinding dow^n the hard crust of the earth, or as rain, dis- 



