. The story of the earth and man [microform]. Geology; Paleontology; Man; Géologie; Paléontologie; Homme. 382 THE STORY OP THE EARTH AND When tlio Glacial period passed away, our nameless simian man, or manlike ape, m'glit naturally bo sup- posed to revert to its original condition, and to estab- lish itself as of old in the new forests of the Modern period. For some unknown reason, however, perhaps because it had gone too far in the path of improve- ment to bo able to turn back, this reversion did not take place. On the contrary, the ameliorated circum- stances and wider range cf thu ne
. The story of the earth and man [microform]. Geology; Paleontology; Man; Géologie; Paléontologie; Homme. 382 THE STORY OP THE EARTH AND When tlio Glacial period passed away, our nameless simian man, or manlike ape, m'glit naturally bo sup- posed to revert to its original condition, and to estab- lish itself as of old in the new forests of the Modern period. For some unknown reason, however, perhaps because it had gone too far in the path of improve- ment to bo able to turn back, this reversion did not take place. On the contrary, the ameliorated circum- stances and wider range cf thu new continents enabled it still further to improve. Ease and abundance per- fected what struggle and privation had begun ; it added to the rude arts of the Glacial time ; it parted with the shaggy hair now unnecessary; its features became softer; and it returned in part to vegetable food. Language sprang up from the attempt to arti- culate natural sounds. Fire-making was invented and new arts arose. At length the spiritual nature, poten- tially present in the creature, was awakened by some access of fear, or some grand and terrible physical phenomenon; the idea of a higner intelligence was struck out, and the descendant of apes became a superstitious and idolatrous savage. How much trouble and discussion would have been saved, had he been aware of his origin, and never enter- tained the vain imagination that he was a child of God, rather than a mere product of physical evolution ! It ir, indeed, curious, that at this point evolutionism, like theism, has its "fall of man;'' for surely the awakening of the religious sense, and of the know- ledge of good and evil, must on tuat theory be so. Please note that these images are extracted from scanned page images that may have been digitally enhanced for readability - coloration and appearance of these illustrations may not perfectly resemble the original Dawson, J. W. (John William), Sir, 1820-1899. Toronto : Copp
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