LUTHER BURBANK 



that the conditions of Nature again prevail, then 

 selection will take place in accordance with the 

 needs of the plant itself, and this will imply a re- 

 version, in the course of a few generations, to 

 something like the original wild state of the plant. 

 Unnatural Standards of Civilization 



Now the conditions of human civilization are 

 no less artificial. 



Standards of excellence among civilized men 

 are quite different from the standards of excel- 

 lence among barbaric races. We do not count a 

 man as the foremost individual in his community 

 because he has the physical ability to wield a 

 heavier club than his neighbor can wield, nor be- 

 cause of the ruthless freedom with which he exer- 

 cises his superior strength. 



Among savage tribes mere physical strength, 

 coupled with brute cunning and ferocity, may 

 determine leadership. Such are the natural and 

 necessary standards so long as man is at war 

 with wild beasts and with other savage men that 

 know no law except that of physical supremacy. 



But under conditions of civilization all that 

 has been changed. The standards of excellence 

 that determine the position of men and women in 

 any given community are mental and moral rather 

 than merely physical. 



They are in the broad sense of the word un- 



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