XL.] HABIT AND VARIATION IN HISTORY. 183 



as for instance those of India, appear to regard the change 

 of a custom or a law as impossible. To this blind conser- 

 vatism is due the fact, which is illustrated in every page 

 of history, that institutions have a tendency to outlive institu- 

 their usefulness. The best instance of this is probably the l-ve^their 

 Papacy, which in the early Middle Ages was no doubt a usefulness. 

 beneficial institution, but has been a noxious one ever since 

 the time of Innocent III. 



