
618 The American Naturalist. [July, 
And in this powerfulness we have the general underlying agree- 
ment as to, at least, what is accomplished by “ perfection.” 
This apparently indirect manner of approach to our subject 
enables us to save time by clearing up in our minds what we 
mean, and do not mean, when we speak of the perfect man, or his 
approximation, the better man. And still we are driven to nar- 
rower ground by recollecting that John L. Sullivan might have 
an opinion on this topic differing somewhat from that of Oliver 
Wendell Holmes and other essayists. 
We are asked: “What qualities are most essential for the 
perfecting of a human being? What are the cardinal points to be 
insisted upon for the all-round development of the coming man ? ” 
The modern scientific method of finding an answer would com- 
pel us to take another ramble over creation, for man is part of 
the universe, and cannot be fairly considered apart therefrom, 
though we may avoid unnecessary discursiveness in the endeavor. 
Looking at the worst phase first, in all ages man has been a 
sorry sort of brute, with animal propensities, desires, passions ; 
and, as Buckle has fully shown, his civilization has been a growth 
from feuds, follies, conquests, individual and tribal selfishness and 
rapacity ; but with increase of intelligence a respect for the rights 
of others came about, because man recognized that he best con- 
served his selfish interests by mutual regard. Self-protection 
was assured by family protection, and both these by tribal protec- 
tion, and it is dawning upon the world that national barriers must 
eventually give way to the universality of interests; nor is the 
heterogeneity of the “brotherhood of man,” with diversity of 
aims, ideas, capabilities, and needs, any greater, comparatively, 
to-day, between races, than it was ages ago between many 
individuals of the same tribe. 
Altruism is the highest egoism, and is developed from it. In 
plain words, as Darwin expressed it, club law instituted morality 
in savage tribes. This club law, and the fear of it, led to an 
habitual regard for the method of avoiding its enforcement, and 
it became folly to be other than virtuous under such circum- 
stances 
} Knight errantry, the duello, and finally, in these days, suits at _ 
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