REAL FREEDOM 



this whole complex pattern of events with- 

 out a break. There can be no doubt of 

 this. But a significant factor in this se- 

 quence Is the internal, that is, the mental, 

 reaction of the child who stands trembling 

 on the river's brink In an agony of inde- 

 cision, torn by conflicting fears of death 

 In the water and of the jibes of his play- 

 mates. The normal healthy boy usually 

 rises to the situation in manful fashion. 

 He weighs over against the unknown ter- 

 rors of the water, with at least a sporting 

 chance of successful achievement, the cer- 

 tainty of unremitting torments of ridicule, 

 and he takes the plunge. It Is a real 

 choice. He must do one thing or the 

 other. And his full awareness of the fu- 

 ture consequences of the choice is the de- 

 cisive factor with him. 



This choice is determined by hereditary 

 endowments, environmental Influences, 

 and previous choices, which have resulted 

 In the gradual formation of mental atti- 

 tudes and what we call character. And 

 the choice is a determining agent with ref- 

 erence to subsequent acts and the further 

 development of character. The timid boy 

 expresses the ''Inner nature" of his charac- 

 ter and temperament when he chooses to 

 step from the bank Into deep water with 



[8i] 



