THE DESCENT OR ORIGIN OF MAN 221 



then branched off into two great stems, the New World 

 and Old World monkeys; and from the latter, at a re- 

 mote period, Man, the wonder and glory of the Universe, 

 proceeded. 



Thus we have given to man a pedigree of prodigious 

 length, but not, it may be said, of noble quality. The 

 world, it has often been remarked, appears as if it had 

 long been preparing for the advent of man; and this, in 

 one sense, is strictly true, for he owes his birth to a long 

 line of progenitors. If any single link in this chain had 

 never existed, man would not have been exactly what he 

 now is. Unless we wilfully close our eyes, we may, with 

 our present knowledge, approximately recognize our parent- 

 age; nor need we feel ashamed of it. The most humble 

 organism is something much higher than the inorganic dust 

 tinder our feet; and no one with an unbiased mind can 

 study any living creature, however humble, without being 

 struck with enthusiasm at its marvellous structure and 

 properties. 



