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1916-17.] Darwinism and Human Civilisation. 
an innovation by man himself, and forms one of the pillars of human 
civilisation. 
The attainment of the erect attitude, which entirely relieved the fore- 
limbs of their function of locomotion, afforded man the opportunity of 
entering on a new phase of existence in which intelligence and mechanical 
skill became his governing factors. With the completion of the morpho- 
logical changes involved in the attainment of this attitude, the evolution 
of the present human form, with the exception of some remarkable modifica- 
tions in the skull and facial bones, was practically complete. Hence, as 
soon as bipedal locomotion became habitual and firmly secured on an 
anatomical basis, it does not appear that the osseous characters of the 
lower limbs would be sensibly affected by any subsequent increase in the 
quantity or quality of the brain-matter. The important and novel element 
introduced on the field of human life by the permanent assumption of the 
erect posture was the use to which the eliminated fore-limbs were put. By 
substituting for nature’s means of defence and self-preservation a variety of 
implements, weapons, and tools made with their own hands, the subsequent 
well-being of these novel bipeds became dependent on their ability to 
interpret and utilise the laws and forces of nature. As time went on they 
began to recognise the value of the faculty of reasoning as the true source 
of inventive skill ; and hence a premium was put on this commodity. In 
this way a stimulus to the production of new ideas and new inventions was 
constantly coming within the scope of their daily avocations, the result of 
which was a steady increment to human intelligence, and consequently an 
increase of brain-matter. 
The far-reaching consequence of securing food supplies by means of 
agriculture and the domestication of animals led to more sedentary and 
social habits. The rise of towns and villages, concurrent with the develop- 
ment of various trades and industries, was but a matter of time — the out- 
come of which is now a vast system of international commerce. Already 
the greater portion of the earth capable of being cultivated is converted 
into gardens and fields whose choice productions are readily conveyed to all 
the large cities on the globe. The flesh of animals is abundant as human 
food, but it is no longer necessary to hunt the animals in their primeval 
haunts. Skin coats, dug-out canoes, and stone weapons are now lineally 
represented by woven fabrics, Atlantic liners, submarines, aeroplanes. 
Long Toms and bombs. 
The Darwinian theory of Organic Evolution, together with a vast 
amount of criticism on its social effects on human institutions, has now been 
before the intellectual world for more than half a century, with the result 
