SPENCER'S "SOCIAL ORGANISM" 148 



kindred on the one hand, and their serfs on the 

 other; the social structure being such that 

 transfer of commodities takes place directly 

 from slaves to their masters. But in societies 

 of a higher type, there grows up, between these 

 two primitive classes, another — the trading or 

 middle class. Equally at first as now, we may 

 see that, speaking generally, this middle class 

 is the analogue of the middle layer in the 

 embryo." 



It is a pity to disturb this serene com- 

 placency, by pointing out that the real trans- 

 porters of commodities are not the members of 

 the middle class who, as a rule, do little and 

 live well, but that section of the working class 

 which mans freight trains, drives teams and 

 shoves trucks. As for that ''higher" class of 

 cells which receives these commodities and 

 consumes them while usefully engaged in 

 building up the nervous and muscular system ; 

 such comparison could only apply to society's 

 brain workers, and it contains no justification 

 for the useless parasitic type represented by 

 such charming persons as Harry Thaw and 

 Reggie Vanderbilt. 



Another very interesting point is Spencer's 

 physiological vindication of profit. The limbs, 

 glands, or other members of an animal are de- 

 veloped by exercise. But in order "that any 



