THE END OF THE CIRCLE . 139 



We must appreciate that anything that has belonged in 

 this way to all life from the beginning, that has aided 

 evolution so much, that has itself unfolded and improved 

 so greatly, must be of great consequence in life. 



It is because of this importance that this little book has 

 been written. All of us know about reproduction; but 

 often we do not stop to appreciate its beauty and import- 

 ance in human development. It means much more in 

 human life than anywhere among the animals. 



In our study we have come around to ourselves. What 

 does all this mean to us? This is the important thing. 

 This is the end of all our circles. 



2. Yourself. — I am thinking now especially of the young 

 people v/ho have been reading this little book. You are 

 yourself still near the beginning of the wonderful cycle. 

 It often makes us feel very small and unimportant when 

 we study the great facts of nature, but it is inspiring to 

 know that we ourselves are links in nature's endless chain. 

 Of course each of us may end the chain, but if we normally 

 perform our part in the cycle we are a part of this 

 immortal stream of life. In continuing it we can add to 

 it or subtract from it. 



It is certainly a proper part of the ambition of every 

 person, if one is normal in body and mind, to continue the 

 good strains of inheritance that have come to him from 

 ancestors. The fact that you are alive now is proof that 

 the chain has been unbroken in your case for untold 

 ages. In order to make you, there have been all these 

 successions of individual, selfish upbuildings alternating 

 with unselfish division and sacrifice of parents; all this 

 crossing of strains; this manifold care of parents for 

 offspring; the weeding out of misfits and the saving of 

 fit; this marriage and building of homes; this developing 

 of fine ideals of sympathy, devotion, and self-control — 

 all these I say have been preserving and piling up and 

 mixing the characteristics that your friends call you. In 



