132 fHE COMING OF MAN 



blinders along a dusty road with green fields and flowers on 

 both sides invisible to him. He is growing near-sighted from 

 watching his steps. 



He has found the world different from his youthful expecta- 

 tions. Now he knows it as it is and can smile at his youthful 

 dreams and illusions. He is a realist accepting the world. 

 He conforms resolutely to the actual. Specialization is neces- 

 sary, every one must do his bit. The more minute the spe- 

 ciality, the narrower and more complete and absorbing the 

 specialization, the greater the rewards. The '' bit " is not big 

 enough to allow breadth and symm.etry of development. 

 Mentally the man now reminds us of the old-fashioned gym- 

 nast trained to use only a few muscles, and perform a few 

 striking tricks or feats on one piece of apparatus amid the 

 applause of the spectators. He is on the road to dominance, 

 a highway " paved with good intentions." He is in danger 

 of becoming a torso, a cripple; or an even worse monstrosity, 

 a " reversed cripple." He may yet be forced to plead the old 

 excuse : " As thy servant was busy here and there, the man 

 was gone." This danger besets every calling. 



We cannot all do all things. Every one must do his little 

 part, and contribute only his best. Every man must spe- 

 cialize in his work. But even in work, and especially in 

 leisure — which, according to Aristotle, is the end of all labor, 

 — no part or power of body or mind can say to any other 

 part: " I have no need of thee." The neglected, disused or 

 misused, part weakens and is likely to become diseased. It 

 remains the weakest spot and will tyrannize over us and drag 

 us down. 



We are all of us victims of over-adaptation to a narrow and 

 artificial, unnatural environment. Through over-adaptation 

 we become passive creatures and creations of present surround- 

 ings, and environment, not their masters and moulders. The 

 artificial fashions and conventions of every era pass quickly 

 away. 



Biologically this has spelled, sometimes temporary domi- 

 nance to a few, always degeneration and failure in the end. 



