THE FUTURE OF SOCIETY 213 



to the individual a full responsibility for his physical 

 or moral condition. No man by taking thought can 

 add a cubit to his stature. No man by taking thought 

 can make himself wise or witty or virtuous ; he may 

 do something for the improvement of Ms character, 

 as by judicious diet and exercise he may add to his 

 height or weight, but the main lines of his moral and 

 'physique are determined for him. The results of 

 Nature's care are shown in the moulding of the species ; 

 the individual is the subject of countless experiments, 

 successful or unsuccessful, all directed to the great 

 end of the discovery of the fittest. Life may be said 

 to be ever striving to assume the most suitable 

 form ; it gropes its way as it goes, and avails itself of 

 all the aids to progress it can find upon the route to 

 its unknown goal. 



In an interesting speculation upon the future status 

 of women, Herbert Spencer assumes that the legal 

 bond of marriage will cease to be tolerated unless it 

 happens to coexist with a bond of affection between 

 the parties.^ We do not see in the existing condition 



^ " As monogamy is likely to be raised in cliaracter by public 

 sentiment requiring that the legal bond shall not be entered into 

 unless it represents the natural bond, so perhaps it may be that the 

 maintenance of the legal bond will come to be held improper if the 

 natural bond ceases. Largely increased facilities for divorce point 



