1 82 THE FAMILY AND THE NATION 



view of the importance of continued selection to the 

 nation and to mankind, it becomes an imminent danger 

 to the country, and high treason to the human race. 



It is also a short-sighted policy towards the "family," 

 since it does not look beyond one fleeting generation. 

 The eye of faith sees possibilities in grandchildren and 

 great-grandchildren, who may rise up and bring fresh 

 credit to the stock. 



As His Eminence Cardinal Mercier, Archbishop of 

 Mechlin, well says in his Lenten Pastoral address for 

 1909 on the duties of married life : " Ne croyez done 

 pas faire oeuvre de sagesse en conviant vos fils a s'asseoir 

 au degre de I'echelle sociale, ou votre energie et votre 

 esprit d'epargne vous ont fait monter. Apprenez-leur 

 que le point de depart importe peu, que ce qui importera, 

 pour eux, ce sera leur point d'arrivee." 



The motive we are considering probably takes 

 somewhat different forms among the upper classes and 

 among the skilled artisans. The upper and profes- 

 sional classes have found difficulty during the last forty 

 years in placing all their sons in suitable positions 

 with sufficient salaries. This difficulty, as we have 

 said, is now becoming less, owing to the increase in 

 the number of appointments to be filled, and the 

 lessening supply of competent men to fill them. But 

 doubtless it has been acute at times during the last 

 half- century. Its causes are interesting, and repay 

 historical study. 



Till the end of the seventeenth century, till a stand- 

 ing Royal Army and a permanent Navy were firmly 

 established, it was impossible to bring up to a definite 

 professional career those younger sons of good houses 



