XXIII HUMAN SELECTION 519 



founded is that of a great family. As in a well-regulated 

 modern family the elders, those who have experience of the 

 labours, the duties, and the responsibilities of life, determine 

 the general mode of living and working, with the fullest 

 consideration for the convenience and real well-being of 

 the younger members, and with a recognition of their 

 essential independence. As in a family, the same comforts 

 and enjoyments are secured to all, and the very idea of 

 making any difference in this respect to those who from 

 mental or physical disability are unable to do so much as 

 others, never occurs to any one, since it is opposed to the 

 essential principles on which a true society of human 

 brotherhood is held to rest. As regards education all 

 have the same advantages, and all receive the fullest and 

 best training, both intellectual and physical ; every one is 

 encouraged to follow out those studies or pursuits for which 

 they are best fitted, or for which they exhibit the strongest 

 inclination. This education, the complete and thorough 

 training for a life of usefulness and enjoyment, continues 

 in both sexes till the age of twenty-one (or thereabouts), 

 when all alike, men and women, take their place in the 

 lower ranks of the industrial army in which they serve for 

 three years. During the latter years of their education, 

 and during the succeeding three years of industrial service, 

 every opportunity is given them to see and understand 

 every kind of work that is carried on by the community, so 

 that at the end of the term of probation they can choose 

 what department of the public service they prefer to enter. 

 As every one — men, women, and children alike — receive 

 the same amount of public credit — their equal share of the 

 products of the labour of the community, the attractive- 

 ness of various pursuits is equalized by differences in the 

 hours of labour, in holidays, or in special privileges attached 

 to the more disagreeable kinds of necessary work, and these 

 are so modified from time to time that the volunteers for 

 every occupation are always about equal to its require- 

 ments. The only other essential feature that it is 

 necessary to notice for our present purpose is the system 

 of grades, by which good conduct, perseverance, and 

 intelligence in every department of industry and 



