THE FRUITS OF EDUCATION 327 



poetry and the primitive nature of Japanese music 

 the two media for the expression of love go far 

 to bear out this idea. 



With these differences between the occidental and 

 the oriental nature there is inseparably linked a dif- 

 ference in the fundamental constitution of society 

 which possesses a deep biological significance. It is 

 that the feudal structure of oriental society, expressed 

 in the fact that society (in the special sense of the 

 word) still remains masculine, has brought about 

 a complete inversion of the legitimate biological 

 trend of the national development. This masculine 

 structure of society, and the traditional subordina- 

 tion of the interests of children to those of their 

 parents, combine to bring an element of rigidity and 

 hardness into the national life. Filial piety is an 

 admirable trait, but the exaction of it by the parents 

 is far less admirable and may easily become a highly 

 objectionable feature. Biologically speaking, the 

 responsibility of parents for their children is far 

 greater than the responsibility of the children to their 

 parents. Without parental help children must in- 

 evitably die, being wholly dependent. But parents 

 may live without filial aid and seldom depend on it 

 until relatively late in life. There is a tendency 

 everywhere for parents to use the irresistible lever- 

 age which their parental relation gives them, to 

 mould their children to their own ends. To exact 

 some services in return for those given, is natural 

 and helpful to the character of the child, but the 



