so 
PROOFS OF EVOLUTION. 
their bodies were made out of hand, from a lump 
of local dust, and that they are to this, hour under¬ 
going a penalty of pain and labor for a sin 
committed by a very distant relative, rather than 
believe in ascending excellence from the very first. 
In short, they would rather be fallen angels than 
risen men. 
On this point Mr. Darwin speaks as follows: 
“ Unless we wilfully close our eyes, we may with 
our present knowledge, approximately recognize 
our parentage; nor need we be ashamed of it. 
The most humble organism is something higher 
than the inorganic dust under our feet; and no 
one with an unbiased mind can study any living 
creature, however humble, without being struck 
with enthusiasm at its marvelous structure and 
properties.” Finally it may be said that man is a 
product of all the ages, a summary of all evolu¬ 
tionary efforts, an epitome of all preceding life; 
he is literally “made up of a little of every 
creature’s best,”—the crown and glory of cosmic 
energy. 
