THE STRUGGLE FOR THE LIFE OF OTHERS. 233 



Reproduction, it is so closely related to it that we 

 may next observe a few of the fruits of this most 

 definitely altruistic principle. For here is a principle, 

 not merely a series of interesting phenomena, pro- 

 foundly rooted in Nature and having for its imme- 

 diate purpose the establishment of Other-ism. In 

 innumerable cases, doubtless, Co-operation has been 

 induced rather by the action of the Struggle for Life — 

 a striking circumstance in itself, as showing how the 

 very selfish side of life has had to pay its debt to the 

 larger law — but in multitudes more it is directly allied 

 with the Struggle for the Life of Others. 



For illustrations of the principle in general we may 

 begin with the very dawn of life. Every life at first 

 was a single cell. Co-operation was unknown. Each 

 cell was self-contained and self-sufficient, and as new 

 cells budded from the parent they moved away and 

 set up life for themselves. This self-sufficiency 

 leads to nothing in Evolution. Unicellular organ- 

 isms may be multiplied to infinity, but the vegetable 

 kingdom can never rise in height, or symmetry, or 

 productiveness without some radical change. But 

 soon we find the co-operative principle beginning its 

 mysterious integrating work. Two, three, four, eight, 

 ten cells club together and form a small mat, or 

 cylinder, or ribbon — the humblest forms of corporate 

 plant-life — in which each individual cell divides the 

 responsibilities and the gains of living with the rest. 

 The colony succeeds ; grows larger ; its co-operations 

 become more close and varied. Division of labor in 

 new directions arises for the common good ; leaves 

 are organized for nutrition, and special cells for re- 

 production. All the organs increase in specialization; 



