THE DESTINY OF MAN

Waipa Post, Volume 42, Issue 3305, 4 June 1931, Page 7

THE DESTINY OF MAN

~ IN TWO THOUSAND MILLION YEARS. (By Professor J. Alexander Gunn.) An English writer has written z. novel which, in depth of insight into human nature and in height of imagination, surpasses the loftiest and wildest conceptions of either Jules Verne or H. G. Wells. This “ story of the near and far future,” just published by Methuen, has sprung from the vivid imagination of Dr Olaf Stapledon, one of the Liverpool University group of philosophers. It bears the title “ Last and First Men.” Already Sir James Jeans has assessed the future of the world at some 2,000,000,000 years. Dr Stapledon, taking this as a basis, has “ romanced ” about the future.

The story which Dr Stapledon unfolds purpbrts to be a chronicle written by one of the last men, living toward the end of the allotted span of 2,000,000,000 years. It begins with our own epoch after the close of the Great War, which to the chronicler is very ancient history. Within a century of the Great War come several others. Italy and France come into conflict over territory in North Africa. France wins easily, the Dictatorship in Italy is ruthlessly overthrown, and its leader is done to death ‘by the infuriated Roman mob. France remains mistress of the Continent of Europe. The whole disarmament movement is hurled into a limbo by a war between France and Britain, which is mainly settled in the air. One-third of London is destroyed and half of the Londoners are poisoned by gas. The British Museum is utterly destroyed. The British Air Force in turn obliterates the whole of Paris. In the next war, between Germany and Russia, Moscow, Leningrad, and Berlin are destroyed. The United States, whose capital has penetrated into all these countries, gives relief in large sums, and profits financially by Europe’s decline. The Americans are described by Dr Stapledon as “a race of bright, but arrested adolescents.” After becoming really “ 100 per cent American,” the United States declares war on Europe. A fearful conflict with gas and death-dealing rays from aeroplanes, and the ground rages throughout the world. Canada casts in her lot with the United States. South Africa and India declare neutrality. “Australia, not 'through cowardice, but through conflict of loyalties, was soon reduced to neutrality. ’ The New Zealanders maintain an obstinate but futile resistance in their mountain country. CHINA’S DAY.

The victors are not, however, the masters of the world. Facing them, across the Pacific, is their greatest rival, awakened from long indifference, China. The fact that many Chinese industrial workers cannot afford to keep a motor-car, to say nothing of an aeroplane, is a source of much self-righteous indignation among American employers. For the American activity—any sort of activity—is an end in itself; for the Chinaman activity is but a progress towards the true end, which is rest and peace of mind. The American, a backward youth in a playroom equipped with luxury and electric power, pretends that his mechanical toy moves the world. The Chinese, a gentleman walking in his garden in the evening admires the fragrance and the order all the more because in the air is the first nip of winter and in his ear the rumour of the irresistible barbarian. These two civilisations divide the world; for Africa is now in American hands and Europe in Chinese hands. Both Japan and England are devastated areas; Oxford Street-and the Strand are objects of archaeological interest only, like the ruins of Babylon- The great war of China and America arises over the oil-fuel question, and in consequence that of world power. It is fought about the year 2500. There follows the first world-state, which is a more or less Americanised planet. Science has by this time made great strides. The tides are yoked for power, the unfit have been eliminated, and flying is a favourite pastime. This age of peace and prosperity is rudely shattered by wars and revolts in which microbes are the weapons, and the human race is nearly destroyed. A Dark Age is followed by the rise of civilisation in Patagonia. After a medieval period industry is again discovered, and, to their surprise, ar chaeological researches prove to the Patagonians that there have existed great civilisations before their time. The peak of the Patagonian era is marked by the discovery of atomic energy, but unfortunately for mankind this is used in another war, and it blows up a great portion of the globe and destroys all the human beings on it, except 35 souls who are on a polar expedition. This tragedy occurs about the year 200,000, and it is long before civilisation again appears. After some ten million years a new race of men has grown up, dif-

ferent from the first in many respects, less passionate and more intellectual. They, too, have to evolve a civilisation, but their troubles come mainly from without in the form of an a,'arming invasion from the inhabitants of Mars. Dr Stapledon owes nothing to Mr Wells, who also had this idea in his “ War of the Worlds.” A full account of the Martian physique and mentality is given. The civilisation of Mars as described is a triumph of psychological insight. The Martians have the genuine “ group mind,” and as their bodies are mere clouds in physical appearance the individual mind and body blend easily with the whole. There is an amusing account of how slow the Second Men are to realise that these “ clouds ” are “ minds,” and how stupid the Martians are in turn, for they look in vain for evidence of living minds until they find wireless apparatus! These machines for human minds. The first Martian descent takes place on an “ alpine fashion resort in the Hindu Kush,” but in time the Martians obtain a footing in Australasia and Antarctica. The war devastates the planet, and another Dark Age comes, followed by the Third Men, another species of “ homo sapiens. THE NEW MAN.

This breed of men takes eugenics very seriously, and, having mastered many biological secrets, breeds for certain ends. Good health, beauty, and longevity are universal. The Fourth Men are musically gifted, and the Fifth Men, who follow, are perfect masters of telepathy, which they employ universally as a means cf communication in ordinary life. In addition they learn the art known only rarely to the First Men of exploring the past by telepathy. They learn thus to travel back in time, and they also master travel in space. Gravity is overcome, and vast ether liners journey round the near planets. The moon is now much nearer the earth than in the days of the First Men. Other changes are occurring in the earth’s climate. It is seen from scientific calculation that within 10,000,000 years the earth will be uninhabitable. Man therefore determines to colonise the planet Venus, and after centuries of preparation the whole of the human race transfers its abode to this planet. Hard surface here is scarce, and the Sixth Men evolve a new species of children resembling birds in that they possess natural ability to fly. The Seventh Men grudge every minute spent on the ground. They fly, and apparently they do little else, so that their brains degenerate. The Eighth Men stay on terra firma and do the work. An astronomical event is foretold b> the scientists at this time. A comet and the sun are about to collide, and as this will produce greater heat, Venus will be uninhabitable. As the collision is foreseen some 20,000 years beforehand humanity forestalls disaster by emigrating to the planet Neptune. This emigration takes place about the year 1,000,000,000, or just half-way in the history of man. The last men are the Sixteenth Men or species, we being the First Men. Here the supposed chronicler is writing of his own age and his own people. The end of man is imminent, and he knows it. The closing pages are of great and heroic grandeur. “It is,” says this chronicler at the end of human history, “ very good to have been man, and so we may go forward together with laughter in our hearts and peace, thankful for. the past and for our own courage. For we shall make after all a fair conclusion to this brief music that is man.”