| Note: | Images of the original pages are available through Internet Archive/Canadian Libraries. See https://archive.org/details/creationorevolut00curtuoft |
A PHILOSOPHICAL INQUIRY.
BY
GEORGE TICKNOR CURTIS.
NEW YORK:
D. APPLETON AND COMPANY,
1, 3, AND 5 BOND STREET.
1887.
Copyright, 1887.
By GEORGE TICKNOR CURTIS.
TO
LEWIS A. SAYRE, M. D.,
WHOSE PROFESSIONAL EMINENCE IS RECOGNIZED
IN BOTH HEMISPHERES,
WHOSE SKILL AS A SURGEON
SUFFERING HUMANITY GRATEFULLY ACKNOWLEDGES,
TO WHOSE ANATOMICAL LEARNING
THE AUTHOR IS LARGELY INDEBTED,
AND OF WHOSE FRIENDSHIP HE IS PROUD,
This Book
IS AFFECTIONATELY INSCRIBED.
Perhaps it is expected of a writer who steps out ofthe sphere of his ordinary pursuits, and deals with such asubject as that which is treated in this work, that he willaccount for his so doing. It is not necessary for me to saythat no class of men can have a monopoly in any subject.But I am quite willing to take my readers into my confidenceso far as to state how I came to write this book.
Most men, who have a special pursuit, find the necessityfor recreation of some kind. Some take it in one way, andsome in another. It has been my habit through life to seekoccasional relief from the monotony of professional vocationsin intellectual pursuits of another character. Havingthis habit—which I have found by experience has no tendencyto lessen one's capacity for the duties of a profession,or one's relish of its occupations—I some years ago tookup the study of the modern doctrine of animal evolution.Until after the death of the late Mr. Charles Darwin, Ihad not given a very close attention to this subject. Thehonors paid to his memory, and due to his indefatigableresearch and extensive knowledge, led me to examine his"Descent of Man" and his "Origin of Species," both of[Pg viii]which I studied with care, and I trust with candor. I wasnext induc