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Correktur ivissenschaftlicher AnsicliUn durch zufällige Uinstände. 439
rektur der Theorie der Schallgeschwindigkeit, bei H e r t z ' s Yersuchen,
bei der Auffindung des Argons u. s. w,
3. Analoge Processe laufen im technischen L e b e n ab, u n d
k ö n n e n durch die Erfindung des Fernrohres, der Dampfmaschine,
der Lithographie, der Dagiierotypie u. s. w. erläutert werden.
Analoge Processe lassen sich endlich bis in die A n f ä n g e der
menschlichen Cultur zurückverfolgen. E s ist im höchsten Grade
wahrscheinlich, dass die wächtigsten Culturfortschritte, wie etwa
der ü e b e r g a n g v o m Jäger- z u m Xomadenleben, nicht mit Plan
u n d Absicht, sondern durch zufällige U m s t ä n d e eingeleitet worden
sind, wie dies z. B. durch folgende A u s f ü h r u n g von Dr.
P. G a r US erläutert wird.
„ A very important progress is m a r k e d in the transition
f r o m the hunting stage to the nomadic era of m a n k i n d ; and
several hypotheses can be m a d e as to h o w it was effected. It
is generally assumed that the hunters, having killed a cow or
a sheep, might have easily caught their y o u n g ones and taken
them to the c a m p of tribe. This is not probable w h e n w e
consider the temper and intelligence of the m e n at that period.
W e might almost expect that a cat would spare and feed
the y o u n g birds in the nest, after having caught a n d eaten the
mother.
There is another and more probable Solution of the problem.
The D e e r P a r k Gafion, in La Salle Gounty, Illinois, received
its n a m e from its being used by the Indians to keep deer in it,
which in times of great need could easily be killed. It is a big
natural enclosure, from which the deer, if the exit were well
guarded, could not escape, and were they found sufficient food,
water, and shelter. It m u s t have been m o r e difficult to hunt
an animal than to chase it into the caöon, where herds of deer
could be hept without trouble.
The Indians w h o lived on this continent w h e n the white
m a n came, had been taught the lesson, but hat not yet learned
it. Nature had s h o w n the red m a n that he could keep herds;
he actually kept herds of deer in the natural enclosure of Deer
Park; and yet he had not as yet b e c o m e a shepherd or a nomad.
H e still r e m a i n e d a hunter."
') Carus, the philosophy of the tool. Chicago 1893.
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