DARWIN CONDENSED.

Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2631, 24 July 1871, Page 3

DARWIN CONDENSED.

Ihe following poetical version of “Darwin’s “ Descent of Man” is attributed to an eminent Scottish Judge, Lord Heaves : “ Man comes from a mammal that lived up a tree, And a great coat of hair on his outside had he Very much like the “ Dreadnoughts we frequently see— Which nobody can deny. He had points to his ears and a tail to his rump, To assist him with ease through the branches to jump— In some cases quite long, and in some a mere stump— Which nobody can deny. This mammal, abstaining from mischievous pranks, Was thought worthy in time to be raised from the ranks, And with some small ado came to stand on two shanks— Which nobody can deny. Thus planted, his course he so prudently steered, That his hand soon improved and his intellect cleared; Then his forehead enlarged and his tail disappeared — Which nobody can deny. ’Tisn’t easy to settle when man become man ; When the monkey-type stopped and the human began ; But some very queer things were involved in the plan — Which nobody can deny. Women plainly had beards and big whiskers at first ; While the man supplied milk when the baby was nursed ; And some other strong facts I could tell if I durst— Which nobody can deny. Our arboreal sire had a pedigree too ; The marsupial system comes here into view ; So we’ll trace him, 1 think, to a great kangaroo — Which nobody can deny. The kangaroo’s parent, perhaps, was a bird ; But an ornithorhynchus would not be absurd ; Then to frogs and strange fishes we back are referred — Which nobody can deny. Thus far Darwin has said. But the root of the tree, Its nature, its name, and what caused it to b«, SeeBQS a secret to him jua- as much as to me. Which nobody can deny. Our old friend Lucretius explained long ago How the fittest survive and the weak are laid low; And our friends of the farm must a thing or two know, Which nobody can deny. I would ne’er take offence at what’s honc.tly meant, Or that truth should he told of our lowly descent ; To be sprung from the dust 1 am humbly content — Which nobody can deny.