The Ideal State 219 



greater efficiency in ameliorating the ordinary existence 

 of the working classes will before long be accomplished. 

 This Mr. Kidd has been the first to demonstrate from 

 the scientific study of history, and it is well that we 

 should acknowledge our indebtedness for this profound 

 discovery, immeasurable in the range of its influence. 



In the discussion of this question he endeavours to 

 prove that human evolution is not primarily intel- 

 lectual. In other words, he means that man in his 

 evolution from the Stone Age — the age of the cave- 

 dwellers — upwards has developed physically and in- 

 tellectually to his utmost limits. It must be evident, 

 however, that this only applies to the individual who 

 has had a fair opportunity, who has been brought up 

 in a good environment, who, as a child, has had every 

 necessary want supplied as far as pure air, good food, 

 suitable clothing, absolute cleanliness, and kindly 

 interest could secure, and at a further stage every suit- 

 able form of athletic exercise necessary to physical 

 development, and at the same time the culture of the 

 ages presented in an attractive form. Hitherto these 

 have been only possible to the comparatively few ; but 

 we know that very soon, under the further evolutionary 

 process, these will become the environment of every 

 child born. It may be well to point out that this is not 

 only a matter of simple justice, it is an absolute essen- 

 tial of the welfare of the State. The child does not ask 

 to be born ; it finds itself in the world without any say 

 in the matter whatever ; it has therefore every right 

 to demand the best possible environment in order to 

 ensure perfect growth and efficiency of man and 

 womanhood. This the State is at last endeavouring 

 to secure. Every child must have pure air, suitable 

 clothing, good food, absolute cleanliness, tender care, 

 and afterwards the culture of the ages. Patriotism 

 from the purely selfish standpoint demands this also in 



