178 Life and Love. 



XX. 



MATURITY. 



BEFORE maturity the creature has no personal 

 individuality, yet is independent of its race. 

 It lives for itself, not for the race. 



After maturity the highest personal individuality 

 is achieved, and independence of race lost. 



It is no longer free from obligation to its race. 



It has come into its kingdom, it has found 

 itself, but does not belong to itself 



The reproductive activity, as we have seen, is 

 universal, not only throughout all life, but through- 

 out the individual. Its action is not confined to 

 one tissue or one class of tissues; directly, or 

 indirectly, it affects all. 



Every cell in the female organism responds to 

 the strange feminine impulse sent to it from the 

 tiny cells at the reproductive centre. Infinitesi- 

 mal in size, these cells, nevertheless, exercise a con- 

 trolling power over the whole structure. Through 

 their decree femininity sits enthroned, with its 

 many graces. 



Every cell in the male yet more vigorously 

 responds to the message of masculinity sent it by 

 the super-active sperm-cells. 



