314 FOOT-NOTES TO EVOLUTION. 



The process of evolution makes the embryo more and 

 more important ; specialization checks waste. Among the 

 higher forms the loss of ova and of embryos becomes less 

 and less; correspondingly fewer in number are needed. 



To bring forth the young alive and to nourish it with 



milk is greatly to reduce the waste of life. It renders a 



birth important. The fox, in the fable, 



Specialization of ^^^^ reproached the lioness that she 



the embryo. , , , ■ , 



brought forth but one young one at a 



time. "Yes," she said, " but that one is a lion." To bear 

 the young and to nourish it separates the lioness further 

 and further in function from the lion. This handicap of 

 her general activities in the interest of the coming gen- 

 eration throws greater stress on his. Should she neg- 

 lect her duty, her line of descent would be cut off. 

 Hence the coming generations are derived from those 

 who do not shrink from the self-sacrifice which parent- 

 hood demands. What is true of the lower animals is 

 true of man in still higher degree. It is the basis of the 

 recognised distinctions in the activities of men and 

 women. That every child born should make the most 

 of itself is the ideal of social development. As society 

 advances, father and mother must furnish more and 

 more of the environment of the child. The merely 

 physical part of parenthood assumes an importance pro- 

 gressively less and less. The higher heredity which 

 each individual builds up for himself should be well un- 

 der way when parental influences cease. The aggregate 

 of these influences constitutes the home. 



The duty of home-making must fall on the mother. 



This is demanded of civilized women, that they shall 



be fit for mothers, not merely for nurses 



Maternity and ^^^ ^^^^^ ^^^ chambermaids. They 



companionship. , . , , , ,• , 



must be fit for the lifelong environment 

 of the strongest and wisest men. 



