124 MORAL CONDITION OF THE CHILD 



he will be unreliable in the rugged struggles 

 known to public life I speak of tendency, know- 

 ing well how successfully certain fathers and 

 mothers have overcome their difficulties when 

 compelled to work out the problem alone. 



This view of the child increases immensely the 

 parental responsibility and accentuates the impor- 

 tance of influences received as early as the period 

 we are now studying. He is now receiving ele- 

 ments of life, real character-stuff, through eye 

 and ear, and nothing capable of making an impres- 

 sion upon him is unimportant. The child ia this 

 period learns to walk and to talk ; mastication be- 

 gins, which is the first break in his close physical 

 connection with the mother-life. These powers 

 indicate the broadening of the sources of influence 

 that reach him. Hitherto he could receive only 

 those influences which came to him; now he can 

 go after impressions, and when they are not ap- 

 parent, can ask for them. While at this time the 

 majority of the higher animals also automatic 

 idiots have their mental development arrested, 

 the child parts company forever with them; for 

 he is now beginning in real earnest that mental 

 growth which distinguishes him from them. The 

 social life is now established and will grow more 

 and more. Fear and anger, the animal emotions, 

 are very early exhibited. If the fear is allayed 

 or dispelled, its exhibition becomes rare; if the 

 anger is never allowed to avail anything, it be- 



