Racial Experience 



Of course these conceptions are not present 

 full-blown In the mind of the child. Put hydro- 

 gen and oxygen together In a receiver. There 

 Is no water there, but pass a spark through and 

 there will be. The molecules of the gas will leap 

 together In liquid drops. Where are the leaves, 

 branches, and acorns In the germ of an oak? 

 Keep the germ under proper conditions and en- 

 vironment win call all these forth In due order 



m 



and season. 



So In the brain of the child the combinations 

 are all prepared, and the stimulus of a proper 

 environment will call forth the conceptions. In 

 the embryo the rods and cones of the retina of 

 the eye are all formed In complete darkness, as 

 also the nerve paths along which the vibrations 

 called forth by the light as yet unknown will 

 travel to form Images In the brain. The child 

 opens Its eyes and sees the world, though dimly 

 and partially at first. No Images reach the 

 brain, only vibrations pass along the optic nerve. 

 It required thousands of years for the worm to 

 develop an eye capable of forming an Image and 

 a brain capable of translating the vibrations of 

 the nerve. The Infant learns all this In a few 

 hours or days. If he needs to learn It at all. 



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