234 ARISTOCRA C Y AND E VOL UTION 



Book in for if the propensities which result in family life 

 affect the structure of the dwelling, other tastes or 

 propensities equally spontaneous determine what 

 commodities shall be put in it. It is true that these 

 tastes are different in different social classes; it is true 

 and the fumi- also that they have not, so far as their details 



ture and other . . 



commodities are concerned, as deep a root in our nature as 

 the propensities which give its character to the 

 family. They are stimulated, sustained, and modified 

 by constant suggestions from without, by circum- 

 stances, and by tastes which, within limits, vary 

 greatly ; but they are all alike in this, that when 

 they become efficient, or, in other words, take de- 

 finite shape as a want, the want has become a part 

 of the man who feels it, and is for the time as 

 spontaneous as are the family instincts themselves. 

 and indeed on The influence, however, of men's spontaneous 

 products. wants is not confined to the house and household 

 appliances, but extends itself over the whole domain 

 of economic products. And here we are brought 

 back again to another portion of the ground which 

 we have already traversed. We are brought back 

 to the domain of economic production ; but brought 

 back with eyes opened to a new order of facts. 



Now before we proceed to a consideration of 

 these, let us recapitulate what has been said with 

 regard to this subject already. The main fact 

 which was dwelt upon in our previous examination 

 of it was the fact that in wealth -production all 

 but the earlier advances are due, both in their 

 achievement and their maintenance, to the few, 



