THE INFLUENCE OF MIN^. 481 



produce food for him when and where he pleased. From the 

 moment when the first skin was used as a covering, when 

 the first rude spear was formed to assist in the chase, the 

 first seed sown or shoot planted, a grand revolution was 

 effected in nature, a revolution which in all the previous ages 

 of the world's history had had no parallel, for a being had 

 arisen who was no longer necessarily subject to change with 

 the changing universe, a being who was in some degree 

 superior to nature, inasmuch as he knew how to control 

 and regulate her action, and could keep himself in harmony 

 with her, not by a change in body, but by an advance in 

 mind. 



" Here, then, we see the true grandeur and dignity of man. 

 On this view of his special attributes, we may admit that 

 even those who claim for him a position and an order, a 

 class, or a sub-kingdom by himself, have some reason on 

 their side. He is, indeed, a being apart, since he is not 

 influenced by the great laws which irresistibly modify all 

 other organic beings. Nay, more : this victory which he 

 has gained for himself gives him a directing influence over 

 other existences. Man has not only escaped ' natural selec- 

 tion' himself, but he is actually able to take away some of 

 that power from nature which, before his appearance, she 

 universally exercised. We can anticipate the time when the 

 earth will produce only cultivated plants and domestic ani- 

 mals ; when man's selection shall have supplanted ' natural 

 selection ; ' and when the ocean will be the only domain in 

 which that power can be exerted, which for countless cycles 

 of ages ruled supreme over the earth." 



Thus, then, the great principle of Natural Selection, which 

 is to biology what the law of gravitation is for astronomy, not 

 only throws an unexpected light on the past, but illuminates 

 the future with hope ; nor can I but feel surprised that a 

 theory which thus teaches us humility for the past, faith in 



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