SURVIVALS EXIST IN ALL KINDS OF SOCIETIES 155 



primitive, have undergone certain modifica- 

 tions. 



(J) That all societies, even the least conservative, 

 exhibit instances of reduced institutions, 

 and of vestiges of institutions which have 

 disappeared. 



We will take the second point first, as it can be 

 more briefly dealt with. 



1. We know that imitation of the past and 

 respect for tradition arid custom are reduced to a 

 minimum in modern societies, especially in the 

 countries of the New World. Even in these 

 recently formed States, however, instance of sur- 

 vival may be found. 



In the first place, there are legal and religious 

 survivals of European origin. Jews settling in the 

 United States kept up the practice of circumcision, 

 while Christians introduced the Eucharist. Spencer l 

 has shown that forms of greeting are vestiges of a 

 primitive ceremonial demonstrating submission to 

 the omnipotence of others. Then take the Calendar 

 system which is universal ; we know that the names 

 of months and days of the weeks are survivals from 

 Polytheistic times, and it seems certain that both 

 circumcision and the celebration of the Mass are 

 true survivals which originated in religious sacrifices. 

 Independently of these imitative survivals vestiges 

 remain in the United States of reduced institutions 

 which were fully functional in the last century. 

 1 Essays on Progress. 



