134 SEX 



the maternal care after birth make a reduction 

 of the number of the family a successful 

 economy. 



Similarly in mankind the age of marriage 

 is pushed later and later as civilisation and 

 culture increase, partly as a matter of necessity 

 (analogous to infanticide and artificial abortion 

 among peoples living near the margin of 

 subsistence), and partly because of selfishness. 

 Partly, too, as the result of an idea, often mis- 

 taken, of giving the family a good start, but 

 also as a natural result of higher evolution; 

 that of the continued uplift of individu- 

 ality, through the lengthening of childhood and 

 of adolescence. Moreover, with this goes a 

 lengthening of the normal duration of maturity 

 as well. 



All investigators of the evolution of moral 

 sentiments are agreed in emphasising the 

 educative influence that children have on 

 their parents. Just as we find a frequent 

 correlation between sociality and animal 

 intelligence witness rooks, cranes and parrots, 

 beavers, monkeys so the life of the family 

 must be recognised as a stimulus to wits and 

 to good feeling alike. Fer6 points out very 

 clearly that those who live in the relative 

 security of civilisation must not misjudge the 

 practice of infanticide among savage tribes, 

 who are not thereby to be entirely denied 

 the virtue of parental affection. When food is 

 scarce and quick marches frequent, there can 

 be few infants. And just as the method of 

 infanticide was replaced by that of abortion, 

 so the latter has often disappeared before 

 a less dangerous control of conception. 



