SELECTION ON MAN. 325. 
mentary organisms), could remain unchanged and live, 
amid the universal change around it. 
At length, however, there came into existence a 
being in whom that subtle force we term mind, be- 
came of greater importance than his mere bodily struc- 
ture. Though with a naked and unprotected body, 
this gave him clothing against the varying inclemen- 
cies of the seasons. Though unable to compete with | 
the deer in swiftness, or with the wild bull in strength, 
this gave him weapons with which to capture or over- 
come both. Though less capable than most other ani- 
mals of living on the herbs and the fruits that unaided 
nature supplies, this wonderful faculty taught him to 
govern and direct nature to his own benefit, and make 
her 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, when fire was first used to cook his 
food, when the first seed was sown or shoot planted, 
a grand revolution was effected in nature, a revolu- 
tion which in all the previous ages of the earth’s his- 
tory 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 con- 
trol and regulate her action, and could keep himself 
in harmony with her, not by a change in body, but 
by an advance of mind. 
Here, then, we see the true grandeur and dignity 
of man. On this view of his special attributes, we 
