23 
Fitness of the Environment 
That an organism must keep adjusted to its environment is a 
fact long recognized, even before Darwin gave it new meaning 
by showing its significance in the evolution of more efficient types 
of organization. But in 1913 there was published a thought- 
provoking book by Prof. Lawrenée J. Henderson, of Harvard 
University, entitled, The. Fitness of the Environment. In this 
book the author elaborated the thesis that, while the organism must 
keep adjusted to its environment, the environment must be favor- 
able to the organism, proceeding to show that the present environ- 
ment of living things is the best that could be imagined for the 
welfare of existing types of life. 
“Fitness is a mutual or reciprocal relationship between the 
organism and the environment,” says Professor Henderson, and 
“fitness of environment is quite as essential a component as the 
fitness which arises in the process of organic evolution. . . . The 
one fitness is no less important than the other.” 
This was not a new conception, but it was restated by Professor 
Henderson in the light of recent advances in science, and its im- 
portance was emphasized. In particular, says the author, “ while 
life is active there must be exchange of both matter and energy 
with the environment.” The two principal requirements of the 
living organism which an environment must fulfill are such a sup- 
ply of food and energy as may be necessary for stability of con- 
ditions and healthy functioning and growth. 
Application to Institutions 
No principle is more important than this in the Ecology of an 
institution. However lofty its ideals, however efficient its or- 
ganization, however much its services may be needed, no institu- 
tion can long function nor function efficiently if it 1s not ade- 
quately supported, and support must come chiefly, if not wholly, 
rom the immediate, local environment. No community should 
become parasitic upon its public institutions, any more than they 
should become parasitic upon their communities. In particular, 
a community that is continually asking as well as receiving services 
from a local institution, places itself under a very real obligation 
to support that institution. 
