Justice in Death 89 



liking for a particular home mountain or lake, while others 

 are travellers and wander far. Now suppose that the ad- 

 vance of civilization brings men to the neighborhood, and 

 the deer are driven out. Obviously that strain which has been 

 always wandering and has adaptable habits, will now endure 

 the migration more easily, and though all may suffer losses, 

 yet the home depending creatures will lose most. After that 

 again, losses may eradicate the weakness, and thereupon the 

 race will be fitted again for wandering life, or for its new 

 territory, by the selection of the most suitable from among 

 its old numbers, and by the production of many young so 

 that a few may be selected to survive under the new con- 

 ditions. It is easy to suppose (or even to observe) that such 

 a trial can make a valuable difference in the character of a 

 herd of deer in even a few seasons, and a very considerable 

 change can occur in several generations. 



It becomes clear that this eliminating function of death 

 in the meeting of changed environment, by change in the 

 race habits and conduct, cannot be rejected or dispensed 

 with. It is a regular and general function for all life. We 

 have studied it in the lower forms of animal life where it 

 may be regarded with less emotion and with clearer under- 

 standing. We see its real value and necessity there less 

 blinded by our instinctive repugnance. The sentiments which 

 have such strong hold upon humanity are based upon those 

 consequences which are more intensely felt, because closer 

 and more specialized, but not because they are the most im- 

 portant consequences. Death of one's own kin is a wound 

 to cause grief, while death of one's neighbors' kin may be 

 considered with a less emotion, and death of far away hu- 



