ng about evolution," said Ross. "Well, Prof
Humbert says that evolutions hasn't anything to do with the Bible--He
says that science is science and that religion is religion and that the
two don't mix. He says that he holds by evolution but that that doesn't
make Christ's philosophy bad."

"No," Burbank agreed, "it doesn't make it bad; but that isn't the point.
I've read the Bible, which I bet is more than the rest of you can say,
and I've read the Sermon on the Mount a dozen times. It's darn good
sense, but what good does it do? The world will never practice Christ's
philosophy. The Bible says, 'Man is born to trouble as the sparks fly
upward,' and, believe me, that's damn true. If people would be pure and
good, then Christ's philosophy would work, but they aren't pure and
good; they aren't made pure and good, they're made selfish, and bad:
they're made, mind you, made full of evil and lust. I tell you it's all
wrong. I've been reading and reading, and the more I read the more I'm
convinced that we're all rotten--and that if there is a god he made us
rotten."

"You're wrong!" They all turned toward Winsor, who was still standing by
the fireplace; even Ferguson rolled over and looked at the excited boy.
"You're wrong," he repeated, "all wrong. I admit all that's been said
about parents. They do cheat us just as Don said. I never tell my folks
anything that really matters, and I don't know any other fellows that
do, either. I suppose there are some, but I don't know them. And I admit
that there is sin and vice, but I don't admit that Christ's philosophy
is useless. I've read the Sermon on the Mount, too. That's about all of
the Bible that I have read, but I've read that; and I tell you you're
all wrong. There is enough good in man to make that philosophy
practical. Why, there is more kindness and goodness around than we know
about. We see the evil, and we know we have lusts and--and things, but
we do good, too. And Hugh was right when he talked a while ago about the
beauty in the world. There's lots of it, lots and lots of it. There's
beautiful poetry and beautiful music and beautiful scenery; and there
are people who appreciate all of it. I tell you that in spite of
everything life is worth living. And I believe in Christ's philosophy,
too. I don't know whether He is the son of God or not--I think that He
must be--but that doesn't make any difference. Look at the wonderful
influence He has had."

"Rot," said Burbank c