2 24 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



number of animals may present, so long as some animals present suffi- 

 cient sagacity to supply data for the general theory of evolution ; 

 while, on the other hand, it is of the utmost importance for the science 

 of this century to ascertain the lowest dej^ths in which the mind of man 

 is known to exist as human. Now, there is no doubt that the interval 

 which separates the most degraded savage from the most intelligent 

 animal is, psychologically considered, enormous ; but, enormous as it 

 is, I cannot see any evidence to show that the gulf may not have been 

 bridged over during the countless ages of the past. Abstract ideas 

 among savages are mostly confined to such as may be formed by the 

 logic of the feelings ; so that, for instance, according to the observa- 

 tions and the judgment of Mr. Francis Galton, the ideas of number 

 which are presented by the lowest savages are certainly in no degree 

 superior to those which are presented by the higher animals. Such 

 ideas as savages possess seem to be mainly those which, as in animals, 

 are due to special associations. On this account there is in them, as in 

 animals, a remarkable tendency to act in accordance with preformed 

 habits, rather than to strike out improved modes of action. On this 

 account, also, there is, as in animals, a strong tendency to imitation as 

 distinguished from origination. Again, as in animals, so in savages, 

 the reflective power is of an extremely undeveloped character, and 

 quite incapable of sustained application. And, lastly, the emotions of 

 savages, as of animals, are vivid, although, as contrasted with the 

 emotions of civilized man, they are in a marked degree more fitful, 

 impetuous, shallow, and transitory. So that, altogether, I think the 

 lowest savages supply us with a most valuable transition-stage between 

 mind as we know it in ourselves, and mind as we see it manifested by 

 the higher animals. 



With regard to children it is to be expected, on the general theory 

 of evolution by inheritance, that if we were attentively to study the 

 order in which their mental faculties develop, we should find that the 

 historical sequence is, as it were, a condensed epitome of the order in 

 which these faculties were developed during the evolution of the human 

 species. And this expectation is fairly well realized. Very young 

 children present only those lower faculties of mind which in animals we 

 call instincts. With advancing age, the first indication of true intelli- 

 gence seems to consist in the power of forming special associations. 

 Memory thus appears early in life ; and, long before a child is able to 

 speak, it links together in thought ideas of objects which it finds to be 

 associated in fact. Again, the emotions begin to assert their presence 

 at a very early period, and attain a high degree of development before 

 any of the characteristically human faculties can be said to have ap- 

 peared. Moreover, in young children we meet with nearly all the 

 emotions which I have named as occurring in animals, and their general 

 character is much of the same kind. In more advanced childhood the 

 emotional life of children more resembles that of savages. With regard 



