The Adoption of Children 195 



the surplus children at one end of the social 

 scale could be transferred to the opposite end, 

 the results would be most beneficial. This 

 ' means that the homeless child should be placed 

 in a childless home, to the lasting benefit of 

 both. 



There is always going on a social current 

 moving from below upward; too high a degree 

 of civilization often has a devitalizing influence 

 on both the individual and society. There is 

 some truth in the old adage that it takes three 

 generations to get from shirtsleeves to shirt- 

 sleeves. 



It is not only in married homes which are 

 childless that the adoption of children would be 

 beneficial. If well-to-do spinsters would take 

 one or two children and bring them up in their 

 homes, there would be less neurasthenia and 

 hysteria in this class. The maternal instinct 

 is often highly developed in unmarried women, 

 and this plan would afford it a normal and use- 

 ful outlet. 



A vigorous stream of life may thus be made 

 to flow into some of our older families by en- 



