"MANKIND IN THE MAKING" 39 



the case of the females, it assured survival only to those 

 who possessed strongly developed maternal instincts and 

 submissiveness. 



It is by no means realized that the incidence of moulding 

 forces has changed and is changing with the environ- 

 ment of the race. So long as physical force, as between 

 man and man, -determined survival, as among savage 

 races to-day, so long does it ensure to such races strong 

 men and strong children, for in conflict with neighbouring 

 tribes victory rests with the most powerful of physique 

 and endurance and the most prolific. This last is an all- 

 important concomitant if repeated conflicts are to be 

 successfully waged. Among civilized peoples such con- 

 tests began to lose their value in this regard when, by 

 the introduction of arms, physical personality became a 

 steadily diminishing factor. Victory now rests rather 

 with those peoples who are most skilful in devising engines 

 of destruction. The brain, not brawn, tells. But man 

 cannot live by brains alone. With the inevitable decline 

 in his physical nature man's hold on existence is seriously 

 imperilled. Civilization is making for extinction as much 

 as over-specialization in the case of the lower animals. 

 Hitherto, save in the case of decaying nations, women 

 have played but a minor part in what we may call the 

 " tribal " affairs of the race. Among the civilized nations 

 of to-day, in proportion as the " maleness " of the 

 community becomes more and more effete, the victims 

 of sophistry, and the slaves of shibboleths, so the in- 

 fluence of the females asserts itself. And recent events 

 among us show plainly enough that that influence is the 

 reverse of good. Having its roots in personal vanity, 

 and the love of notoriety, it is intolerant alike of reason 

 and self-restraint, and that wav madness lies. 



