THE MAN OF THE FU7 URE. 163 
son of the afifinities and differences of allied species as they exist at present. But 
just as each individual, before becoming subject by birth to the influence of sur- 
rounding circumstances, reproduces the character which his species wore before 
those surrounding circumstances had produced any effect, so each individual, 
after having passed beyond maturity under the influence of surrounding circum- 
stances, foreshadows the character which his species will wear when those cir- 
cumstances have produced their full effect. If, then, by following Darwin's 
method of comparing the affinities and differences of existing species, a new 
theory of the evolution of the future is built up, and it is then found that each 
individual during his passage from maturity to old age undergoes the same 
changes that are predicted for the species, there would be good prima facie 
evidence in favor of the correctness of the theory; and this evidence is not want- 
ing. 
There is, of course, this difference between a retrospective and a prospective 
theory of evolution : that the latter can only be carried forward for a short way, 
only so far in fact as the present incompleted stage of the journey reaches. After 
that we cannot even conjecture in whicn direction the next new departure may be 
taken. In looking back upon the lines of descent which different extant species 
have followed, we see a number of converging lines, and can place our finger 
upon the point of intersection and say, "There was the common parent of all 
these species." In looking forward, on the other hand, we can only see the 
divergence of. the lines, and have no fixed points in the landscape to guide us as to 
their ulterior destination. Hence in pointing out the path that evolution of the future 
must follow, we can only speak with assurance of a very little distance, and with, 
doubt of a few steps more. Unforeseen circumstances and oblique influences 
cannot fail to arise to turn each species aside from the course it is now following. 
With this explanation I may restate the proposition that the man of the future will 
be a toothless, hairless animal, incapable of extended locomotion. His feet will 
have no divisions between the toes. He will be very averse to fighting, and will 
maintain his position in the foremost files of time to come, solely upon the strength 
of a few pecuUar convolutions in his brain. Compared with the stately broad- 
winged possessor of " vril," this picture of the coming race is not flattering, but 
it is at least more probable. More details might easily be added, but those 
which have been enumerated are sufficient for the purpose, and are so obviously 
the inevitable results of changes already partially accomplished, that few words 
will be necessary to support them. 
The different parts of the human frame as it exists now have been evolved 
or modified by the action of the two great principles that have always regulated 
the development of species. Every organ and every ornament that man posses- 
es has been acquired by natural or by sexual selection, and when either of these 
forces is weakened or removed, or when the necessity for such organs or orna- 
ments is no longer sufficient to counterbalance the loss of the power employed in 
their production, then they commence at once to disappear. This is the case 
with human teeth. The early ancestors of man were furnished, as the male gor- 
VII-ll 
