IN HIGHER PEOPLES 145 



kills sheep — in obedience to an urge within us 

 which has sui'vived from the time when our ances- 

 tors were human wolves. 



The hunting instinct is very strong in all the 

 higher races of men. It is especially strong in 

 boys. I can remember how it was in my own case. 

 There were few joys of my boyhood more wild 

 and overwhelming than the savage joy of laying 

 things low. This is a mournful fact to find in the 

 nature of beings who hold that the Golden Rule of 

 life is to act toward others as you would have 

 others act toward you. 



The hunting instinct is closely related to the 

 fighting instinct. Primitive man made war on the 

 universe, human and non-human alike. To the 

 savage, all those who did not belong to his crowd 

 and were not on his side were enemies. They were 

 to be used in one way or another, for food, cloth- 

 ing, or slaves, and if they were of no use they 

 were to be removed anyway as competitors in the 

 struggle for life. 



Owing to the general preference for peace 

 among higher peoples and the resulting scarcity 

 of opportunities for killing men, many men today 

 satisfy the fighting or war instinct by ''hunting." 

 War is not common enough to suit their natures. 

 And, since they are deprived of the privilege of 

 warring on others of their own kind, they go on 

 occasional expeditions against "the animals.'* 

 The condition of the warrior is similar to that of 

 the trap-shooter, who bangs away heroically at 



