The Family 159 



fancy we might have become formidable among 

 animals through sheer force of sharp-witted- 

 ness. But, except for these circumstances, we 

 should never have comprehended the meaning 

 of such phrases as 'self-sacrifice,' or 'devotion.* 

 The phenomena of social life would have been 

 omitted from the history of the world, and with 

 them the phenomena of ethics and religion.'* 

 While the bringing up and training of the 

 child call for watchful care and constant labor, 

 if it be conscientiously and hopefully under- 

 taken, there are the greatest rewards and com- 

 pensations for such efforts. It is only neces- 

 sary to note what the child does for parents 

 and the race to see how this must be so. In the 

 scheme of higher evolution the child stands pre- 

 eminent. It was the maternal care required 

 by the long period of helpless infancy that first 

 initiated altruism into the human race. It takes 

 time to develop unselfishness and sympathy, 

 and in the lower animals the interval requiring 

 such complete care and self-sacrifice is lacking. 

 It is the helpless child that develops in the 

 mother carefulness, patience and tendeniess; 



