CHARACTERISTIC PASSAGES
FROM THE WRITINGS OF CHARLES DARWIN.
SELECTED AND ARRANGED
BY
NATHAN SHEPPARD,
AUTHOR OF
“SHUT UP IN PARIS,” EDITOR OF “THE DICKENS READER,” “CHARACTER READINGS
FROM GEORGE ELIOT,” AND “GEORGE ELIOT’S ESSAYS.”
“There is grandeur in this view of life, with its several powers, having beenoriginally breathed by the Creator into a few forms or into one; and that, whilethis planet has gone cycling on according to the fixed law of gravity, from sosimple a beginning endless forms most beautiful and most wonderful have beenand are being evolved.”—The Origin of Species, page 429.
NEW YORK:
D. APPLETON AND COMPANY,
1, 3, AND 5 BOND STREET.
1884.
Copyright, 1884,
By D. APPLETON AND COMPANY.
[Pg iii]
While these selections can not but be useful to thosewho are perfectly familiar with the writings of Darwin,they are designed especially for those who know little,or nothing, about his line of research and argument,and yet would like to obtain a general idea of it in aform which shall be at once authentic, brief, and inexpensive.
This volume contains, of course, only an outline ofthe contents of the twelve volumes from which it iscompiled, and for which it is by no means intended asa substitute. It will, on the contrary, we should hope,create an appetite which can be satisfied only by a carefulreading of the works themselves.
Darwin’s repetitions, necessitated by his method ofinvestigation and publication, and his unexampled candorin controversy, have been something of an embarrassmentin the classification of these passages; so thatwe have been obliged in some instances to sacrifice continuityto perspicuity. But, as one object of this bookis to correct misrepresentations by giving Darwin’s viewsivin his own language, some of his own repetitions mustbe given also, in order to leave no doubt as to preciselywhat he said and did not say. It will probably be along while before the dispute over the theory that headvocated will cease, but there is certainly no excusefor a difference of opinion with regard to the languagethat he used, and the meaning he attached to it. Thatlanguage and that meaning will be found in thesepages. Darwinism stated by its opponents is one thing,Darwinism stated by Darwin himself will be found tobe quite another thing, for, to use his own exclamation,“great is the power of steady misrepresentation!”
The order followed in the arrangement of these extractsis not that of the books, but the one naturallysuggested by our plan, which is designed to conduct thereader through the vegetable up to the animal kingdom,and up from the lowest to the highest animal, man,“the wonder and glory of the universe.”
The references are to the American edition of Darwin’sworks published by D. Appleton & Co., NewYork.
It is no part of our purpose to discuss the theoryexpounded here, but we can not refrain from joiningin the general expression of admiration for its illustriousexpounder. Lord Derby says, “He was one of half