The Survival of the Fittest 



already attained, at the expense or to the neglect 

 of the development of some higher power of 

 greater capacity. They have gained present 

 prosperity at the expense of all possibility of fu- 

 ture progress. Such prosperity and dominance 

 must be brief. They are like certain unwise in- 

 vestors who lose their whole capital in the effort 

 to gain a high rate of interest. Such a policy 

 must end In bankruptcy and beggary. The mol- 

 lusk sleeping in his shell is sure to be surpassed 

 by the form which is investing all its energy of 

 development in some organ of higher possibili- 

 ties and capacities. The hulking brute of a rep- 

 tile will In time yield place to the brainier mam- 

 mal. But, if we focus our attention upon the 

 present alone and close our eyes to the future, 

 the dominant form will almost certainly appear 

 to be the fittest, although Its doom is sure and 

 downfall near. 



The fittest is the form which keeps up and Im- 

 proves all the attainments of its ancestors, but 

 steadily exercises and develops the organ of 

 highest capacities and possibilities. But such 

 complex organs or institutions are and must be 

 of slow growth. The seed is planted by one 

 generation, and fostered with much pains and 



105 



