A NEW PHASE OF AN OLD CONFLICT 549 



most of them wear themselves out more in acquiring the source of their 

 dominion than the humblest of their dependents, and for the most part 

 do not cease to strain their mental capacities to the limit in this exacting 

 labor, long after they have amassed fortunes far beyond the most exag- 

 gerated possible requirements of the individual. 



We perceive that for the man of to-day work has become an instinc- 

 tive need. We find it difficult to understand the biblical presentation of 

 it as a curse. Herein we have an illustration of a phenomenon of 

 moment to living beings which can be summarized thus : In the course 

 of evolution the necessities of life develop into the happiness of life. 



Those beings in whom pleasurable sensations attend the tasks neces- 

 sary to life will carry on these tasks better and more completely than 

 will others, who are brought to labor only by force of necessity. Hence, 

 in the competition for existence, or in the course of adaptation, such 

 beings are at an advantage, in comparison with the discontented, and 

 have a better chance to transmit their characteristics. Thereby is estab- 

 lished a progressive confirmation and intensification of this vitalizing 

 tendency, which gradually becomes a fixed peculiarity of the species. 

 The case is similar with regard to the taking of food. Eating and 

 drinking came to be ranked among the chief ceremonials of men, as a 

 result of uncertainties and irregularities in the food supply. In highly 

 civilized environments the custom survived, along with the sentiments 

 that prompted it, as a consequence of the law of biological inertia, for 

 long generations after the conditions which created it had passed away. 

 Thus, we still punctuate our festivities of various kinds with banquets, 

 during which the festive spirit usually reaches a maximum. Again, the 

 decisive function for the continued existence of a species, reproduction, 

 is safeguarded by a strong development of the corresponding emotions. 

 The mode of life and the character of most of the higher animals 

 undergo marked changes at the time of mating, and we see such animals 

 instinctively make the greatest sacrifices for the preservation of their 

 young. If we ask how it is with man in this regard, we have only to 

 consider the content of art. Ninety per cent, of all poetry relates to 

 love, and the personal experiences of most individuals further go to show 

 that the emotions aroused in connection therewith and the feelings of 

 happiness and misery are keener than any other emotions that affect 

 mankind. In this, some men have a different experience, or express 

 themselves doubtfully. These are the creative geniuses. They often de- 

 clare that in hours of greatest productivity they have a sense of pro- 

 found or even of inexpressible happiness. 



Labor, being a necessity imposed on life, has developed till it has 

 become one of the joys of life. The completeness of this change of 

 feeling varies with the stage of culture of the particular group. Desire 

 for work has become instinctive, more especially among those peoples 



