BENEVOLENCE AND DISCIPLINE 143 



females have their origin at the very roots of the ani- 

 mal and plant kingdoms. But whatever causes may 

 have initiated these differences, as they increase, the 

 power of either sex to perpetuate itself is gradually 

 lost. Sexual cooperation then becomes the only way 

 to preserve the dual life. 



Individual life may be regarded as definitely ini- 

 tiated with the cooperative union of the male and fe- 

 male germ-cells respectively contributed to the new life 

 by male and female parents. 



A part of the combined germinal fund is used in 

 constructing the body of a new parent; the remainder 

 is domiciled within that parent till it may be safety 

 surrendered to its complementary germ-cell in the con' 

 struction of the next generation. 



The intervening period constitutes the period of 

 parental growth, a period which begins in the youth- 

 ful egoism of acquisition and self-construction, and 

 passes over into the period of parental altruism when 

 all its powers are utilized in the interests of its ger- 

 minal ward. For each sex ultimately draws on all its 

 resources to guard its respective trust funds, and to 

 convey them to a time and place where they may best 

 live and grow. Each sex also contributes to these ger- 

 minal funds it own special endowments in the form 

 of foods, containers, and administrative labor. 



The almost universal distinction between male and 

 female parents rests on the basic fact that each one is 

 the product, as well as the conveyor, of a special kind 

 of germ plasm, each kind producing a different type of 

 metabolism, and consequently differently constructed 

 bodies. Thus the organic profits, which respectively 

 accrue to males and females during their lifetime, are 



