THE FAMILY, THE HOME 133 



existed since historic times is of a very different 

 nature. While indirectly traceable, like every other 

 peculiarly human institution, to man's physical 

 uprightness, marriage by capture, feudalism, and 

 man-made laws must be assigned as directly 

 responsible for its existence. By taking from 

 woman her natural right of free choice in matters 

 sexual, and conferring this power exclusively upon 

 man, this sort of economic dependence has brought 

 many evil consequences upon the race, detailed 

 mention of which is inappropriate in essays of 

 this kind. Yet can it not be doubted that, for a 

 long time to come, many men and women will con- 

 tinue to join in marriage, mainly prompted by the 

 desire of making a comfortable home and raising a 

 family of children. And to accomplish this credit- 

 ably requires ordinarily the whole time and energy 

 of the mother during the greater portion of her 

 mature life. The earning of the living for the family 

 during this period naturally and equitably falls upon 

 the father, becomes his special function. And divi- 

 sion of labor has its advantages in this department 

 of life, as well as in others. But, under such circum- 

 stances, love and community of interests are the 

 basis of the arrangement, and evil consequences, if 

 any exist, are obviously minimized. The father's 

 knowledge of his economic power must give way to 

 his sense of obligation, and the mother's sense of 

 dependence can hardly be any greater than that 

 existing between equal business partners under 



