116 Evolution 



its surface. We watch the dense shell of steam condense 

 into water, and clothe nearly its whole surface. We 

 mark the tiny specks of living matter that appear in the 

 water, cluster together, grow into little elongated bodies 

 with sensitive heads and rows of oars at the side. We 

 observe some of them curl up inside protective shells, 

 and others break up into armoured joints and creep on 

 to the land, and develop wings and fly in the atmosphere. 

 We see the green mantle creeping over the rising con- 

 tinents, and the fish taking to the land, and colossal 

 reptiles sprawling or leaping over it, and taking wing in 

 turn into the clearer air. We note the growing coldness, 

 and the paralysis of the great reptiles, and the spread of 

 smaller creatures with quicker brains and better blood. 

 We fasten on one of these insect-pursuing beings, and 

 see its intelligence sharpen in the fight with stronger 

 or swifter competitors, and its face slowly turn toward 

 the heavens. And we see that face gradually lose its 

 bestiality in the care of young and the growth of social 

 life, shine with increasing intelligence as it realises its 

 power, and at last set up homes and ideals and marvel- 

 lous constructions under the sunlight. 



So some remote and detached spectator, with a large 

 sense of time, would view the panorama of evolution as 

 it has hitherto unrolled. What is depicted on the rest 

 of the canvas to be unrolled to the eyes of the future ? 

 How much we would give to knowl It is a strictly 

 scientific feeling that the future holds changes more 

 vast and wonderful than any that have preceded. 

 Evolution is going on in the world more rapidly than 

 ever. The pace increases in every century. Social and 

 political and ecclesiastical institutions are evolving. 

 Science and industry and commerce and morality — 

 schools and homes and cities and workshops and 

 theatres and vehicles — all are leaving a crude past behind 



