106 A BOOK-LOVER'S HOLIDAYS 



behind them their seed to inherit the earth. 

 DeaHng with averages, it is the bare truth to 

 say that no cehbate hfe approaches such a hfe 

 in point of usefulness, no matter what the mo- 

 tive for the cehbacy — rehgious, philanthropic, 

 political, or professional. The mother comes 

 ahead of the nun — and also of the settlement 

 or hospital worker; and if either man or woman 

 must treat a profession as a substitute for, in- 

 stead of as an addition to or basis for, marriage, 

 then by all means the profession or other 

 "career" should be abandoned. It is of course 

 not possible to lay down universal rules. There 

 must be exceptions. But the rule must be as 

 above given. In a community which is at peace 

 there may be a few women or a few men who 

 for good reasons do not marry, and who do 

 excellent work nevertheless; just as in a com- 

 munity which is at war, there may be a few 

 men who for good reasons do not go out as 

 soldiers. But if the average woman does not 

 marry and become the mother of enough 

 healthy children to permit the increase of the 

 race; and if the average man does not, above 

 all other things, wish to marry in time of peace, 

 and to do his full duty in war if the need arises, 

 then the race is decadent, and should be swept 

 aside to make room for one that is better. Only 



