EDUCATION AND THE FUTURE OF THE RACE 299 



cultivated that aid in self-preservation. Even in 

 civilized life this line is paramount, for the chief ac- 

 tivities of the man and woman are expended in the 

 direction of maintaining self. What qualifications 

 are needed for this? Mainly observation, accurate 

 and quick, good memory, power of generalization 

 sufficient to distinguish between that which is favor- 

 able to self and that which is not ; this is partly an 

 instinctive faculty, partly acquired, but it can be 

 acquired to a high degree. Ingenuity in adapting 

 means to an end is a prominent feature of this self- 

 preservative development. Even hi civilized men 

 the qualities sought for success are not so different 

 from those of the savage state. The development of 

 observation, of memory, and of the power of generali- 

 zation for the sake of increased personal satisfaction 

 is at present the aim of the few ; but there is no 

 reason why it should not become the ami of many 

 more as the interest of society turns more and more 

 strongly towards self-improvement not for mere 

 self-preservation, but for other purely selfish aims. 

 The motive for this improvement is apt to be in part 

 contributed by certain elements of sexual origin 

 which we may consider later. It is sufficient to 

 consider here, very sketchily, some aspects of the 

 power of observation, memory, and the faculty of 

 generalization, without special reference to the uses 

 to which they are to be put whether they be of 

 the higher or lower sort. 



The ability to observe is a power which grows by 



