Housed,protected,sumptuouslyfed,theluxuriouschildrenkeeptotheirMother'ssideformonthsandyears,andonlyquittheparentalroofwhentheirfilialeducationiscomplete。
OnacasualviewoftheExaminer'sReportonthesevariouschildrenofNature,thephysiologist,asdistinguishedfromtheeducationalist,mightobjectthatsofarfrombeingthesubjectofcongratulationitisaclearcaseforcensure。IfearlyNaturecouldturnoutready-madeanimalsinasinglehour,isitnotaretrogrademovetohavetotakesolongaboutitlateron?WhenonecontraststhefreeswimmingembryoofaMedusa,dashingoutintoitsheroiclifethemomentitisborn,withthehelplesskittenorthesightlesspup,isitunfairtoaskifNaturehasnotlostthetrickofmakinglustylives?Isshenottryingthenewexperimentattheriskofblunderingtheoldone,andwhycannotshecontinuetheearlierandmorebrilliantdeviceofmakingherchildrenknight-errantsfromthefirst?Becausebrillianceisnotherobject。
Herobjectisethicalaswellasphysiological;andthoughwhenwelookbelowthesurfaceapurelyphysiologicalexplanationoftheriddlewillappear,theethicalgainisnotlessclear。Bycurbingthemsheiseducatingthem,tamingthem,rescuingthemfromawildandlawlesslife。Theserovingembryosaremerebandits;theirnatureandhabitsmustbechanged;notasternerracebutagentlerracemustbeborn。Newwordsmustcomeintotheworld——Home,Love,Mother。AndtheseimperceptiblyslowdrawingstogetherofparentandchildaretheinevitablepreliminariesofthedomesticationoftheHumanRace。Regardedfromtheethicalpointofviewtherearefewthingsmoresignificantthanthisreining-inoftheworld'srampantyouth,thistighteningthebondsoffamilylife,thismostgentleintroductionofgentlenessintoaworldcoldwithmotherlesschildrenandheartlesswithchildlessmothers。
Thepersonaltieonceformedbetweenparentandoffspringcouldneverbeundone,andfromthismomentonwardsmustgrowfrommoretomore。Forobservewhathashappened。Agenerationhasgrownuptowhomthistieisthenecessityofexistence。EveryMammalianchildbornintotheworldmustcometobefed,must,foragivennumberofhourseachday,beinthematernalschool,andwhetheritlikeitornot,learnitslessons。NoyoungofanyMammalcannourishitself。ThereisthatinitthereforeatthisstagewhichcompelsittoseekitsMother;
andthereisthatintheMotherwhichcompelsitevenphysically——andthisisthefourthprocess,onwhichitisneedlesstodwell——toseekherchild。
Onthephysiologicalside,thenameofthisimpellingpowerislactation;
ontheethicalside,itisLove。AndthereisnoescapehenceforthfromcommunionbetweenMotherandchild,oronlyone——death。BreakthisnewbondandtheMammaliabecomeextinct。Natureisinearnesthere,ifanywhere。
ThetrainingofHumanityisseentobeunderacompulsoryeducationact。
Itisintheseverityanddreadofherpenalties,coupledwiththeimpossibilityofevadingtheleastofthem,thatthewillofNatureandtheseriousnessofherpurposesaremostdeclared。Forthephysiologicalgainswhichunderlietheseethicalrelationsareall-important。ItislargelyowingtothemthattheMammaliahavetakentheirplaceinthevanoftheprocessionoflife。Undertheearliersystemlifehadabadstart;eachanimalhadtopushitswayupwardsingle-handedfromtheegg。Itwasplanted,sotospeak,onthefirstrungoftheladder,andastherisksoflifeareimmeasurablygreatininfancy,ithadalltheseriskstotake。Underthenewsystemitislaunchedintothebattlealreadynourishedandstrong,andpassedscathelessthroughthefirstvicissitudesofyouth。InthehigherMammalia,invirtueofthepossessionbythisgroupofaplacentainadditiontotheordinaryMammaliancharacteristics,theyounghaveadoublechanceofasuccessfulstart。Thedevelopment,infact,ofhigherformsoflifeontheearthhasdependedonthephysicalperfectingofMothers,andofthephysiologicaltieswhichbindthemtotheiryoung。WiththeimmensestructuraladvanceoftheMammalia,anorderofbeingwasintroducedintoNaturewhosecontinuityasanallbutimmortalseriescouldneverbebroken。
Thuswhatevermoralrelationsunderlietheextraordinaryphysicalcharacteristicofthishighestclassofanimals,thereistheaddedguaranteethattheycanneverbedestroyed。
Withthephysicalprogrammecarriedouttothelastdetail,theethicaldramaopened。Anearlyresult,partlyofhersex,andpartlyofherpassivestrain,isthefoundingthroughtheinstrumentalityofthefirstsavageMotherofanewandabeautifulsocialstate——Domesticity。
WhileMan,restless,eager,hungry,isawandererontheearth,WomanmakesaHome。AndthoughthisHomebebutaplatformofsticksandleaves,suchasthegorillabuildsonatree,itbecomesthefirstgreatschoolroomofthehumanrace。Foronedaythereappearsinthisrooflessroomthatwhichistoteachtheteachersoftheworld——aLittleChild。
NogreaterdayeverdawnedforEvolutionthanthisonwhichthefirsthumanchildwasborn。ForthereenteredthenintotheworldtheonethingwantingtocompletetheAscentofMan——atutorfortheaffections。ItmaybethataMotherteachesaChild,butinafardeepersenseitistheChildwhoteachestheMother。MillionsofmillionsofMothershadlivedintheworldbeforethis,butthehigheraffectionswereunborn。Tenderness,gentleness,unselfishness,love,care,self-sacrifice——theseasyetwerenot,orwereonlyinthebud。Maternityexistedinhumbleforms,butnotyetMotherhood。TocreateMotherhoodandallthatenshrinesitselfinthatholywordrequiredahumanchild。ThecreationoftheMammaliaestablishedtwoschoolsintheworld——thetwooldestandsurestandbestequippedschoolsofEthicsthathaveeverbeeninit——theonefortheChild,whomustnowatleastknowitsMother,theotherfortheMother,whomustascertainlyattendtoherChild。Theonlythingthatremainsnowistosecurethattheyshallbothbekeptinthatschoolaslongasitispossibletodetainthem。ThenexteffortofEvolution,therefore——thefifthprocessasonemightcallit——istolengthenouttheseschooldays,andgiveaffectiontimetogrow。
NoanimalexceptManwaspermittedtohavehiseducationthusprolonged。Manycreatureswereallowedtostayatschoolforafewdaysorweeks,buttooneonlywasgivenacurriculumcompleteenoughtoaccomplishitsexaltedend。Watchtwoofthehighestorganismsduringtheirearliestyouth,andobservethestrikingcontrastinthetimetheyaremadetoremainattheirMother'sside。Thefirstisahumaninfant;
thesecond,born,letussuppose,onthesamedayisababymonkey。InafewdaysorweeksthebabymonkeyisalmostabletoleaveitsMother。
Alreadyitcanclimb,andeat,andchatterlikeitsparents;andinafewweeksmorethecreatureisasindependentofthemasthewinged-seedisoftheparenttree。Meantime,andformanymonthstocome,itslittletwinisunabletofeeditself,orclotheitself,orprotectitself;itisameresemi-unconsciouschattel,asprawlingballofhelplessness,theworld'sonetypeofimpotence。Thebodyisthereinallitsparts,boneforboneandmuscleformuscle,liketheother。Butsomehowthisbodywillnotdoitswork。Somethingasyethangsfire。Thebodyhaseyesbuttheyseenot,earsbuttheyhearnot,limbsbuttheywalknot。Thisbodyisafailure。
Whydoesthehumaninfantlielikealogontheforest-bedwhileitsnimbleprototypemocksitfromtheboughabove?Whydidthatwhichisnothumanstepoutintolifesolongbeforethatwhichis?
ThequestionhasbeenansweredforusbyMr。
JohnFiske,andtheworldhereowestohimoneofthemostbeautifulcontributionsevermadetotheEvolutionofMan。Weknowwhatthisdelaymeansethically——itwasnecessaryformoraltrainingthatthehumanchildshouldhavethelongestpossibletimebyitsMother'sside——butwhatdeterminesitonthephysicalside?Thethingthatconstitutesthedifferencebetweenthebabymonkeyandthebabymanisanextrapieceofmachinerywhichthelastpossessesandthefirstdoesnot。Itisthiswhichiskeepingbackthebabyman。
Whatisthatpieceofmachinery?Abrain,ahumanbrain。Thechild,nevertheless,isnotusingit。Why?Becauseitisnotquitefittedup。Natureisworkinghardatit;butowingtoitsintricacyanddelicacytheprocessrequiresmuchtime,andtillallisreadythebabemustremainathing。Andwhydoesthemonkey-braingetreadyfirst?Becauseitisaneasiermachinetomake。Andwhyshoulditbeeasiertomake?Becauseitisonlyrequiredtodothelife-workofanAnimal;theotherhastodothelife-workofaMan。MentalEvolution,infact,herestepsin,andmakesanunexpectedcontributiontotheethicaldevelopmentoftheworld。
AnapparatusforcontrollingoneoftheloweranimalscanbeturnedoutfromtheworkshopofNaturesometimesinaday。
Thewheelsarefew,theworksaresimple,theconnectionsrequirelittletimeforadjustmentorcorrection。Everythingthatahumbleorganismwilldohasbeendoneamilliontimesbyitsparents,andalreadythefacultieshavebeencarefullyinstructedbyheredityandwillautomaticallyrepeatthewholelifeandmovementoftheirrace。ButwhenaManismade,itisnotanautomatonthatismade。Thisbeingwilldonewthings,thinknewthoughts,originatenewwaysoflife。Hisimmediateancestorshavedonethesame,butdonesomeofthemsoseldom,andothersofthemforsoshortatime,thatheredityhasfailedtonoticethem。Forhalfthelifethereforethatliesbeforethehumanoffspringnostorageofhabithasbeenhandeddownfromthepast。Eachdescendantmustcarveawaythroughtheworldforitself,andlearntocomportitselfthroughallthevaryingincidentsoflifeasbestitcan。Nowtheequipmentforthisisverycomplex。Intotheinfant'sframemustbefittednotonlytheapparatusforautomaticrepetitionofwhatitsparentshavedone,buttheapparatusforintelligentinitiation;notonlythemachineryforcarryingontheinvoluntaryandreflexactions——involuntaryandreflexbecausetheyhavebeendonesooftenbyitsancestorsastohavebecomeautomatic——butforthevoluntaryandself-consciouslifewhichwilldonewthings,choosefreshalternatives,seekhigherandmorevariedends。Theinstrumentwhichwillattendtobreathingevenwhenweforgetit;theapparatuswhichwillmaketheheartbeateventhoughwetrytostopit;theself-actingspringwhichmakestheeyelidclosethemomentitisthreatened——theseandahundredothersareoldandwell-triedinventionswhich,fromceaselesspracticegenerationaftergeneration,workperfectlyineachnewindividualfromthestart。Naturethereforeneedwastenotimeatthislatedayontheirimprovement。Butthehigherbrainiscomparativelyanewthingintheworld。Ithastoundertakeavasterrangeofduties,oftentotallynewordersofduties;ithastodothingswhichitsforerunnershadnotquitelearnedtodo,orhadnotquitelearnedtodounthinkingly,andtheinconceivablycomplexmachineryrequirestimetosettletoitswork。Theolderbrain-processeshavebeengreatlyacceleratedevennow,andappearinfullactivityatanearlystageintheinfant'slife,butthenewerandthehigherareinperfectorderonlyafteraconsiderableintervalofadjustmentandelaboration。
NowInfancy,physiologicallyconsidered,meansthefittingupofthisextramachinerywithinthebrain;andaccordingtoitselaboratenesswillbethetimerequiredtoperfectit。Asailingvesselmayputtoseathemomenttheriggingisin;asteamermustwaitfortheengines。Andthecompensationtothesteamerforthelongertimeindockisdiscoveredbyandbyinitsvastlygreaterusefulness,itspowerofvaryingitscourseatwill,andinitssuperiorsafetyintimeofwarorstorm。Foritsgreaterafter-usefulnessalso,itsmorevariedcareer,itssaferlife,humanityhastopaytributetoEvolutionbyadelayedandhelplessInfancy,aprolongedandcriticalconstructiveprocess。Childhoodinitsearlystageisaseriesofinstallationsandtrialsofthenewmachinery,aslowexperimentingwithpowersandfacultiessofreshthatheredityinhandingthemdownhasbeenunabletoaccompanythemwithfulldirectionsastotheiruse。
TheBrainofMan,tochangethefigure——ifindeedanyfigureofthatmarvellousmolecularstructurecanbeattemptedwithoutseriouslymisleading——isanelevatedtable-landofstratifiednervousmatter,furrowedbydeepandsinuouscanons,andtraversedbyavastnet-workofhighwaysalongwhichThoughtspasstoandfro。Theoldandoften-repeatedThoughts,ormentalprocesses,passalongbeatentracks;thenewerThoughtshavelessmarkedfootpaths;thenewerstillarecompelledtoconstructfreshThought-routesforthemselves。Graduallythesebecomeestablishedthoroughfares;butintheincreasingtrafficandcomplexityoflife,newpathsinendlessmultitudeshavetobeadded,andbyelanesandloopsbetweentheolderhighwaysmustbethrownintothesystem。Thestationsupontheseroadsfromwhichthetravellerssetoutarecells;theroadsaretransitfibres;thetravellersthemselvesareinphysiologicallanguagenervousdischarges,inpsychologicallanguagementalprocesses。Eachnewmentalprocessinvolvesanewredistributionofnervousmatteramongthecells,anewtravellingofnervousdischargealongoneormanyofthetransitfibres。Nowineverynewconnectionofideasmultitudesofcellsandevenmultitudesofgroupsofcellsmaybeconcerned,sothatshouldithappenthatacombinationoftheseprecisecentreshadneverbeenmadebefore,itisobviousthatnoroutescouldpossiblyexistbetweenthem,andthesemustthenandtherebeprospected。EachnewThoughtisthereforeapioneer,aroad-maker,orroad-chooser,throughthebrain;andtheexhaustlesspossibilitiesofcontinuousdevelopmentmaybejudgedfromtheendlessnessofthepossiblecombinations。Intheoldestandmost-usedbraintheremustalwaysremainvastterritoriesstilltobeexplored,and,asitwere,civilized;andinallmenmultitudesofpossibleconnectionscontinuetothelastunrealized。
Whenitisremembered,indeed,thatthebrainitselfisverylarge,thelargestmassofnerve-matterintheorganicworld;whenitisfurtherrealizedthateachofthecellsofwhichitisbuiltupmeasuresonlyoneten-thousandthofaninchindiameter,thatthetransitfibreswhichconnectthemareofaltogetherunimaginablefineness,thelimitlessnessofthepowersofThoughtandtheinconceivablecomplexityoftheseprocesseswillbegintobeunderstood。
NowitisowingtothenecessityforhavingacertainnumberofthemoreusefulroutesestablishedbeforethebabecanbetrustedfromitsMother'sside,thatthedelayofInfancyisrequired。
Andevenafterthechildhasbeguntopractisetheartoflivingforitself,timehasstilltobegrantedformanypurposes——fornewroute-making,forbecomingfamiliarwithestablishedthoroughfares,forpractisinguponobstaclesandgradients,forlearningtoperformthejourneysquicklyandwithoutfatigue,forallowingactsrepeatedtoaccelerateandembodythemselvesashabits。Inthesavagestate,wheretheafter-lifeissimple,theadjustmentsaremadewithcomparativeeaseandspeed;butasweriseinthescaleofcivilizationthenecessaryperiodofInfancylengthensstepbystepuntilinthecaseofthemosthighlyeducatedman,whereadjustmentsmustbemadetoawideintellectualenvironment,theageoftutelageextendsforalmostaquarterofacentury。
Theuseofallthistomorals,thereactionsespeciallyupontheMother,aretooobvioustodwellon。Tillthebrainarrived,everythingwastoobrief,toorapidforethicalachievements;
animalswereinahurrytobeborn,childrenthirstedtobefree。Therewasnohelplessnesstopity,nopaintorelieve,noquiethours,nowatching;
totheMothernomomentofsuspense——themosteducativemomentofall——whenthesparkoflifeinherlittleoneburnedlow。Parentscouldbenousetotheiroffspringphysically,andtheoffspringcouldbenousetotheirparentspsychically。TheyoungrequirednoInfancy;theoldacquirednoSympathy。EvenamongtheotherMammaliaortheBirdstheMother'schancewassmall。ThereInfancyextendstoafewdaysorweeks,yetisbutanincidentinalifepreoccupiedwithsternertasks。Alionesswillbleedforhercubto-day,andintomorrow'sstruggleforlifecontendwithittothedeath。Asheepknowsitslambonlywhileitisalamb。Theaffectioninthesecases,fierceenoughwhileitlasts,issoonforgotten,andthetracesitleftinthebrainareobliteratedbeforetheyhavefurrowedintohabit。AmongtheCarnivoraitisinstructivetoobservethatwhilethebriefspanofinfancyadmitsoftheMotherlearningalittleLove,thefather,forwantofevensobriefalesson,remainsuntouched,sowhollyuntouchedindeedthattheMotherhasoftentohideheroffspringfromhimlesttheybedevoured。LovethenhadnochancetilltheHumanMothercame。
Toheralonewasgivenacurriculumprolongedenoughtolethergraduateintheschooloftheaffections。Notfordaysorweeks,butformonths,asthecryofherinfant'shelplessnesswentforth,shemuststandbetweentheflickeringflameanddeath;andforyearstocome,untilthebuddingintellectcouldtakeitsowncommand,thisLovedarenotgrowcold,orpauseanhourinitsunselfishministryBeginatthebeginningagainandrecallthefactofwoman'spassivestrain。Atendencytopassivitymeans,amongotherthings,acapacitytositstill。Beitbutforaminuteoranhourdoesnotmatter;thepointisthatthefaintestpossiblecapacityisthere。
ForthisistheembryoofPatience,andifmuchandlongnursedafullyfledgedPatiencewillcomeoutofit。Supplynexttothisnewvirtuesomedefiniteobjectonwhichtopractise,letussayachild。WhenthischildisintroubletheMotherwillobservethesignsofpain。Itscrywillawakenassociations,andinsomedullsensetheMotherwillfeelwithit。But"feelingwithanother"istheliteraltranslationofthenameofasecondvirtue——Sympathy。Fromfeelingwithit,theparentwillsoonerorlaterbeledtodosomethingtohelpit;thenitwilldomorethingstohelpit;finallyitwillbealwayshelpingit。Now,tocareforthingsistobecomeCareful;totendthingsistobecomeTender。Herearefourvirtues——Patience,Sympathy,Carefulness,Tenderness——alreadydawninguponmankind。
OnoccasionSympathywillbecalledoutinunusualways。Criseswilloccur——dangers,famines,sicknesses。AtfirsttheMotherwillbeunabletomeettheseextremedemands——herfundofSympathyistoopoor。Shecannottakeanyexceptionaltrouble,orforgetherself,ordoanythingveryheroic。Thechild,unabletobreastthedangeralone,dies。Itiswellthatthisshouldbeso。ItistheseverityandrighteousjusticeofNature——thetragedyofIvanIvanovitchanticipatedbyEvolution。
AMotherwhohasfailedinhelpfulnessmustleavenosuccessortoperpetuateherunworthinessinposterity。Somewhereelse,however,developingalongsimilarlines,thereisanotherfractionallybetterMother。Whentheemergencyoccurs,sherisestotheoccasion。Foronehourshetranscendsherself。
Thatdayacubitisaddedtothemoralstatureofmankind;thefirstactofSelf-Sacrificeisregisteredinfavourofthehumanrace。ItmayormaynotbethatthechildwillacquireitsMother'svirtue。Butunselfishnesshasscored;itschildhasproveditselffittertosurvivethanthechildofSelfishness。Itdoesnotfollowthatinallcircumstancesthenoblerwillbealwaysvictorious:butithasagreatchance。Afewscoremoreofcenturies,afewmoremillionsofMothers,andthegermsofPatience,Carefulness,Tenderness,Sympathy,andSelf-SacrificewillhaverootedthemselvesinHumanity。
SeethenwhattheSavageMotherandherBabehavebroughtintotheworld。WhenthefirstMotherawoketoherfirsttendernessandwarmedherlonelinessatherinfant'slove,whenforamomentsheforgotherselfandthoughtuponitsweaknessoritspain,whenbythemostimperceptibleactorsignorlookofsympathysheexpressedtheunutterableimpulseofherMotherhood,thetouchofanewcreativehandwasfeltupontheworld。
Howevershorttheearliestinfancies,howeverfeeblethesparkstheyfanned,howeverlonghereditytooktogatherfuelenoughforasteadyflame,itiscertainthatoncethisfirebegantowarmthecoldhearthofNatureandgivehumanityaheart,themoststupendoustaskofthepastwasaccomplished。
Asoftenedpressureofanuncouthhand,ahumangleaminanalmostanimaleye,anendearmentinaninarticulatevoice——feeblethingsenough。Yetinthesefaintawakeningslaythehopeofthehumanrace。"Fromofoldwehaveheardthemonition,`ExceptyebeasbabesyecannotenterthekingdomofHeaven`;thelatestsciencenowshowsus——thoughinaverydifferentsenseofthewords——thatunlesswehadbeenasbabes,theethicalphenomenawhichgiveallitssignificancetothephrase`KingdomofHeaven`wouldhavebeennon-existentforus。WithoutthecircumstancesofInfancywemighthavebecomeformidableamonganimalsthroughsheerforceofsharp-wittedness。
Butexceptforthesecircumstancesweshouldneverhavecomprehendedthemeaningofsuchphrasesas`self-sacrifice`or`devotion。'Thephenomenaofsociallifewouldhavebeenomittedfromthehistoryoftheworld,andwiththemthephenomenaofethicsandreligion。"[90]
[89]MammalianDescent,Prof。W。P。Parker,F。R。S。,p。14。
[90]Fiske,CosmicPhilosophy,Vol。II。p。363。
TheAscentofMan-CHAPTERIXCHAPTERIXTHEEVOLUTIONOFAFATHER
INlastchapterwewatchedthebeautifulexperimentofNaturemakingMothers。Wesawhowtheyoungproducedatonebirthweregraduallyreducedinnumbersuntilitwaspossibleforaffectiontoconcentrateuponasingleobject;howthatobjectwasdelayedinbirthtillitwasalikeableandpresentablething;howitwastiedtoitsmother'ssidebyphysicalbonds,andhinderedthereforyearstogivetimefortheMother'scaretoripenintolove。Wesaw,whatwasstillmoreinstructive,thatNature,whenshehadlaidthetrainforperfectingthesearrangements,gaveupmakinganymoreanimals;andthattherewerephysiologicalreasonswhythiswell-motheredclassshouldsurvivebeyondallothers,and,bysheerphysiologicalfitness,henceforthdominatetheworld。
Buttherewasstillacrowningtasktoaccomplish。
TheworldwasnowbeginningtofillwithMothers,buttherewerenoFathers。
DuringallthislongprocesstheFatherhasnotevenbeennamed。Nothingthathasbeendonehastouchedorconcernedhimalmostintheleastdegree。
Hehasgonehisownway,livedoutsideallthesechanges;andwhileNaturehassucceededinmouldingahumanMotherandahumanchild,hestillwandersintheforestasavageandunblessedsoul。
Thistimeforhim,nevertheless,isnotlost。
Inhisownwayheisalsoatschool,andlearninglessonswhichwillonedaybeequallyneededbyhumanity。Theacquisitionsofthemanlylifeareasnecessarytohumancharacterasthevirtueswhichgathertheirsweetnessbythecradle;andtheserobusterelements——strength,courage,manliness,endurance,self-reliance——couldonlyhavebeensecuredawayfromdomesticcares。Apartfromthat,itwasnotnecessarytoputtheFatherthroughthesamemillastheMother。WhatevertheMothergainedwouldbehandedontoherboysaswellastohergirls,andwiththelawofhereditytosquareaccounts,itwasunnecessaryforeachofthetwogreatsidesofhumanitytomakethesameinvestments。Byoneacquiringonesetofvirtuesandtheotheranother,theblendintheendwouldbethericher;and,withoutobliteratingtheeternalindividualitiesofeach,themeasureofcompletenesswouldbegainedmorequicklyfortherace。Beforeheredity,however,coulddoitsworkupontheFatheracertainbasishadtobelaid。Withhisoriginalhabitshewouldsquanderthehereditarygainsasfastashereceivedthem,andunlesssomechangewasbroughtaboutinhismodeoflifetheoldwildbloodinhisveinswouldcounteractthegentlerinfluence,andleavealltheMother'sworkinvain。HenceNaturehadtosetaboutanotherlonganddifficultprocess——tomakethesavageFatherareformedcharacter。
TheEvolutionofaFatherisnotsobeautifulaprocessastheEvolutionofaMother,butitwasalmostasformidableaproblemtoattack。Asmuchdependedonit,asweshallsee,asthetrainingofthemother;andthoughitbeganlater,itrequiredthebringingaboutofoneortwochangesinNatureasnovelasanythatprecededit。Whentheworkwasbegun,theFatherwasinamuchworseplight,sofarastrainingforfamilylifewasconcerned,thantheMother。IfMaternitywasatafeeblelevelinthelowerreachesofNature,Paternitywasnon-existent。AmongafewInvertebratesthemaleparenttookapassingshareinthecareoftheegg,butitisnotuntilweareallbutatthetopthatfatherlyinterestfindsanyrealexpression。AmongtheBirds,theparentsunitetogetherinmostcasestobuildthenest,theFatherdoingtheroughworkofbringinginmossandtwigs,whilethemoretrustyMotherdoestheactualwork。Whentheeggsarelaid,themaleparentalsotakeshisturnatincubation;suppliesfoodandprotection;andlingersroundtheplaceofbirthtodefendthefledglingstothelast。WhenweleavetheBirds,however,andpassontotheMammals,theFathersarenearlyallbacksliders。Manyarenotonlyindifferenttotheiryoung,buthostile:andamongtheCarnivoratheMothershavefrequentlytohidetheirlittleonesincasethefathereatsthem。
WehaveanotherandamoreseriouscountagainstearlyFatherhood。IftheLoveofFatherforchildwasinthisbackwardstate,infinitelymoregravewastheconditionofthingsbetweenhimandtheMother。Probablywehavealltakenitforgrantedthathusbandsandwiveshavealwayslovedoneanother。Evolutiontakesnothingforgranted。
Theaffectionbetweenhusbandandwifeis,ofalltheimmeasurableformsofLove,themostbeautiful,themostlasting,andthemostdivine:yetuptothistimewehavenotbeenableeventorecorditsexistence。ThefinishedresultsofEvolutionappearsonaturaltous,lookingbackfromthislateday,thatwecontinuallyignorethedifficultiesithadtomeet,andforgethoweverysinglestepinprogressfromthelowesttothehighesthadtobecarriedatthebayonet'spoint。ThemostinformednaturalistprobablyhasnevergivenNaturecreditforathousandthpartoftheworkshehasdone,orhassucceededinpresentingtohismindmorethanasurfaceoutlineofthegiganticseriesofproblemsshehadtosolve。InlowerNature,asasimplefact,maleandfemaledonotloveoneanother;andinthelowerreachesofHuman-Nature,husbandandwifedonotloveoneanother。Amongexceptionalnations,forthelastfewhoursoftheworld'shistory,husbandsandwiveshavetrulyloved;butforthevastmassofMankind,duringthelongageswhichprecededhistorictimes,conjugallovewasprobablyallbutunknown。
NowhereisaveryprettyproblemforEvolution。
ShehasatoncetomakegoodHusbandsandgoodFathersoutoflawlesssavages。
Unlessthisproblemissolvedthehigherprogressoftheworldisatanend。Itisthematureopinionofeveryonewhohasthoughtuponthehistoryoftheworld,thatthethingofhighestimportanceforalltimesandtoallnationsisFamilyLife。WhentheFamilywasinstituted,andnottillthen,thehigherEvolutionoftheworldwassecured。HencetheexceptionalvalueoftheFather'sdevelopment。Astheotherhalfofthearchonwhichthewholehigherworldisbuilt,histaming,hisdomestication,hismoraldiscipline,arevital;andinthenatureofthingsthiswasthenextgreatoperationundertakenbyEvolution。
Thefirststepinthetransitionwastorelatehim,definitelyandpermanently,totheMother。Andhereaformidableinitialobstaclehadtobeencountered。Theapathyandestrangementbetweenhusbandandwifeintheanimalworldisradicalanduniversal。Thereisalmostnosuchthingthereasmarriedlife。Marriage,inanthropology,isnotawordforanoccasion,butforastate;itisnot,thatistosay,awedding,butadwellingtogetherthroughoutlifeofhusbandandwife。NowwhenManemergedfromtheanimalcreationthisinstitutionofconjugallifehadnotbeenarrivedat。Marriagelikeeverythingelsehasbeenslowlyevolved,anduntilitwasevolved,untiltheylearnedtodwellcontinuallytogether,therewasnochanceformutuallovetospringupbetweenmaleandfemale。
InNaturethepairingseasonisusuallybutanincident。Itlastsonlyaveryshorttime,andduringtherestoftheyear,withsomeexceptions,thesexesremainapart。FromtheinvestigationsofWestermarck,whohaslatelycontributedtosociologythemostmasterlyaccountoftheEvolutionofMarriagewepossess——itappearsmorethanprobablethattheearliestprogenitorsofManhadalsoapairingseason,andthattheyoungwerebornataparticulartimeoftheyear,andneveratanyothertime。AlltheanimalsnearesttoManinNaturehavesuchaseason,andthereareonlyafewknown——theelephantforinstance,andsomeofthewhales——whichhavenone。Nowthebrevityofthisperiodinthefather'scasemusthavetoldagainsthisdevelopinganyrealaffection。Ifheistorunawayafewdaysaftertheyoungarebornhewillmissallthedisciplineofthehome,andasthisdisciplineisessential,asthisistheonlywayinwhichlovecanbeacquired,orinheritedlovedeveloped,somemethodmustbeadoptedinhiscasetoextendtheperiodofhomelifeduringwhichitcanact。
Nowletusseehowthiswasdone。TheproblembeingtogiveLovetime,thesolutionwasinsomewaytoalterthecircumstanceswhichconfinedthepairingseasontoaspecificdate——toabolish,infact,thepairingseasoninthecaseofMan,andlengthenoutthetimeinwhichhusbandandwifeshouldstaytogether。Andasthiswasactuallythemethodadopted,wehavefirsttoaskwhatthesespecialcircumstanceswere。Whyshouldanimalshavespecificdatesatall?。ThecluewillbefoundifweexaminecarefullywhatthesedatesareandthereasonsNaturehashadforchoosingthem。Somewiseprinciplemustunderliethis,oritwouldnotbetheuniversalruleitis。ThepairingtimewithBirds,aseveryoneknows,occursintheSpring。WithReptilesthisisalsothecase;butamongMammalseachspecieshasaseasonpeculiartoitself,everyseparatemonthbeingselectedbyoneorother,andinvariablyadheredto。"ThebatpairsinJanuaryandFebruary;thewildcamelinthedeserttotheeastofLakeLob-nor,fromthemiddleofJanuarynearlytotheendofFebruary;theCanisAzaraeandtheIndianbisoninwinter;theweaselinMarch;thekulanfromMaytoJuly;themusk-oxattheendofAugust;theelk,intheBalticProvinces,attheendofAugust,and,inAsiaticRussia,inSeptemberorOctober;thewildYakinTibetinSeptember;thereindeerinNorwayattheendofSeptember;thebadgerinOctober;theCaprapyrenaicainNovember;
thechamois,themusk-deer,andtheorongo-antelopeinNovemberandDecember;
thewolf,fromtheendofDecembertothemiddleofFebruary。"[91]Itmightseemthatnolawgovernedthesevariousdates,buttheirveryvarietyistheproofofanunderlyingprinciple。Forthesedatesshowthateachanimalineachparticularcountrychoosesthattimeoftheyeartogivebirthtoheryoungwhentheywillhavethebestchanceofsurviving——thatistosay,whentheclimateismildest,foodmostabundant,andtheprospectsoflifeonthewholemostfavourable。ThedormousethusbringsforthitsyounginAugust,whenthenutsbegintoripen;andtheyoungdeerseesthelightjustbeforethefirstgrassshootsintogreenness。Becausethosebornatthisseasonsurvivedandthosebornoutofitperished,bytheprolongedactionofNaturalSelectionthesedatesintimeprobablybecameengrainedinthespecies,andwouldonlyalterwithclimateitself。
ButwhenMan'sEvolutionmadeacertainprogress,andwhentheMother'scarereachedmatureperfection,itwasnolongerimperativeforchildrentobebornonlywhenthesunwasshining,andthefruitsgrewripe。Theparentscouldnowmakeprovisionforanyweatherandforanydearth。Theycouldgivetheirlittleonesclotheswhennightsgrewcold;theycouldbuildbarnsandgranariesagainsttimesoffamine。
Inanyclimate,andatanytime,theiryoungweresafe;andtheoldmarriagedates,withtheirsubsequentdesertions,werestruckfromthehumancalendar。
Soarose,oratleastwasinaugurated,FamilyLife,thefirstandthelastnurseryofthehighersympathies,andthehomeofallthatwasafterwardsholyintheworld。OnecouldnotfindasimplerinstanceofthegrowingsovereigntyofMindoverthepowersofNature。Soremoteacauseastheinclinationoftheearth'saxis,andtheconsequentchangesoftheseasons,determinesthetimeofMarriageforalmostthewholeanimalcreation,whileMan,andafewotherformsoflifewhoseenvironmentisexceptional,areabletorefuseallsuchdictations。ItwaswhenMan'smindbecamecapableofmakingitsownprovisionsagainsttheweatherandthecropsthatthepossibilityofFatherhood,Motherhood,andtheFamilywererealized。
Thesupportersofthehypothesisofpromiscuityhavetriedtoshow,whatwouldalmostfollowfromtheirtheory,thatthechildreninprimitivetimesbelongedrathertothetribe。Butitisnotlikelythatthiswasthecase。Thehypothesisofpromiscuityitself,notwithstandingitssupportfromM'Lennan,Morgan,Lubbock,Bastian,Post,andotherauthorities,hasprobablyreceiveditsdeath-blow;andtheancientnessofthefamilyaswellasoftheinstitutionofMarriagearebothvindicatedbylaterfacts。"Everywhere,"writesWestermarck,"wefindthetribesorclanscomposedofseveralfamilies,themembersofeachfamilybeingmorecloselyconnectedwithoneanotherthanwiththerestofthetribe。TheFamily,consistingofparents,children,andoftenalsotheirnextdescendants,isauniversalinstitutionamongexistingpeople。Anditseemsextremelyprobablethatamongourearlyhumanancestors,theFamilyproved,ifnottheSocietyitself,atleastthenucleusofit。Idonot,ofcourse,denythatthetiewhichboundthechildrentotheMotherwasmuchmoreintimateandmorelastingthanthatwhichboundthemtotheFather;butitseemstomethattheonlyresulttowhichacriticalinvestigationoffactscanleadusis,thatinallprobabilitytherehasbeennostageofhumandevelopmentwheremarriagehasnotexisted,andthatthefatherhasalwaysbeen,asarule,theprotectorofhisFamily。"[92]
Buttheprocessisnotyetquitecompleted。
Withthelongertimetogetherhusbandandwifemaygettoknowandleanupononeanotheralittle,butthetimeisstilltooshortfordeepaffection,andthereremainoneortwoseriousobstaclestoremove。Indeed,unlesssomefurtherstepsaretaken,thisfirstachievementmustendinfailure。
Asamatteroffact,ithasoftenendedinfailure,andtherehavebeenandstillaretribesandnationswherelovebetweenhusbandandwifeisnon-existent。AmongtheHovas,weareassuredbyauthorities,theideaoflovebetweenhusbandandwifeis"hardlythoughtof";thatatWinnebah"noteventheappearanceofaffection"existsbetweenthem;thatamongtheBeni-Ameritis"consideredevendisgracefulforawifetoshowanyaffectionforherhusband";thattheChittagongHilltribeshave"noideaoftendernessnorofchivalrousdevotion";andthattheEskimotreattheirwives"withgreatcoldnessandneglect。"ThesavagecrueltywithwhichwivesaretreatedbytheAustralianaboriginesisindicatedevenintheirweapons。Theverynames"Servant,Slave,"bywhichtheBrahmanaddresstheirwives,andthewife'sreply,"Master,Lord,"symbolizethegulfbetweenthetwo。Thereareexceptions,itistrue,andoftentouchingexceptions。
Travellersciteinstancesofconstancyamongsavagepeopleswhichreachtheregionofromance。Probablythereneverwasatime,indeed,norarace,whensomemeasureofsympathydidnotstirbetweenhusbandandwife。Butwhenweconsiderallthefacts,itisimpossibletodoubtthatintheregionofallthehigheraffectionsthesavagewifeandthesavagehusbandwereallbutstrangerstoeachother。
Whatthenwaswantingfortheperfectingofthedomestictie,andhowdidEvolutionsecureit?Intheanimalcreation,wehavealreadywitnessedthemethodswhichNaturetooktogetmorecareoutoflittlecare,tomakeashort-livedsympathygrowintoagreatsympathy。
Hermethodwasfirst,concentration;andsecond,extensionoftime。BygivingaMotheroneortwoyoungtocareforinsteadofahundred,shemadecarepracticable,andbylengtheningtheperiodofinfancyfromhourstoyearsshemadeitinevitable。Andtheseareagainhermethodsinperfectinglovebetweenmanandwife。Byabolishingthepairingseasonshelengthenedthetimeforlovetogrowin;thenextstepistoperfecttheobjectonwhichitshallfocus。Fortherewasagainthesamesortofbarriertoafull-blownlovewhichwesawbeforeintheanimalkingdom。Ananimalmothercouldnottrulyloveintheearlydaysbecauseshehadahundredorathousandyoung。Mancouldnotloveintheearlydaysbecausehehadadozenwives。
Thislovewastoodilutedtocometoanything。WhatEvolutionnextworkedatwastogetaquintessence。Polygamy,inotherwords,thescatteredloveofmany,must,fromthistimeforward,bechangedintomonogamy——theabsorbingloveofone。Andthistranspositionwasgraduallyintroduced。Afewpolygamouspeople,averyfewatfirst,becomemonogamous。Thenewsystemworkedbetter,itspread,andwasfinallyadoptedbythosehighernationswhichitalsohelpedtocreate。Itisaninstance,nevertheless,oftheslownesswithwhichradicalchangessucceedinleaveninggreatmassesofmankind,thattheoldersystem,withthebanofEvolutionuponit,stillsurvivesinModernEurope。Yettherearesigns,evenamongtheuncivilized,thatpolygamyispassingaway。Amongsomealmostsavagetribesitisunknown;amongothersprohibited。Eveninapolygamouscommunityitisusuallyonlyaminoritywhohavemorewivesthanone。Andwherethepluralsystemisinfullforce,thetendency——theEvolutionistwouldsaythetransition——tomonogamyisplainlymarked,foramongthemanywivespossessedbyanyindividual,thereisgenerallyonewhoisfirstfavouriteandranksashelpmeetorwife。
Thestressjustlaidupontheethicalgainsofthemonogamousstateascontrastedwiththepolygamous,ofcourseonlyemphasizesonesideofthequestion,andbythepurenaturalistmightberuledoutofcourt。Werethephysiologisttogooverthesamegroundhecouldgiveaparallelaccountofthedevelopment,andshowthatonthemerelyPhysiologicalplanethetransitiontomonogamyandtheriseoftheFamilywasalikelyifnotaninevitableresult。ItisatleastcertainthatduringthoselaterstagesofsocialEvolutioninwhichMonogamyhasprevailed,thechangehasbeeninthebestphysicalinterestsalikeoftheparents,theoffspring,andofsociety。
Thisbarrierremoved,Evolutionhadstillmuchtodototheother——thebrevityofthetimeduringwhichhusbandandwiferemainedtogether。WhatshortworkNaturehadalreadymadeofthisobstacle——byabolishingthepairingseason——wehavejustseen。Butthatrequiressupplementing。Itisnotenoughtogivetimeformutualknowledgeandaffectionaftermarriage。Naturemustdeepentheresultbyextendingittothetimebeforemarriage。Inprimitivetimestherewasnosuchthingascourtship。Mensecuredtheirwivesinthreeways,andinuncivilizednationssofindthemstill。Amongbarbarousnationsmarriageisnotacaseoflove,butofcapture;amongthesemi-barbarousitisacaseofbarter;andamongtheimperfectlycivilized——amongwhomwemustoftenincludeourselves——amatterofconvention。Thesecondofthese,thepurchasesystem——aslightlyevolvedformofmarriagebycapture——isprobablyonethroughwhichallhumanMarriagehaspassed;andrelicsofitstillexistinthedosandothersymbolsamongnationswithwhomthecustomofbuyingabridehaslongsincepassedaway。Bydegradingtheobjectofbartertothelevelofachattel,thissystemisabarriertohighaffection。
Butinmostcasesthisisheightenedbytheimpossibilityofthatpreliminarycourtshipwhichleadstomutualknowledgeandintelligentlove。Thebrideandbridegroom,intheextremercases,meetastotalstrangers;andthoughaffectionmaybudinafteryears,theminglingofunknowntemperaments,togetherwiththedestructionofreverenceforwomanbytreatingherasanarticleofbarter,makethechancessmallofitblossomingintoaflower。
Courtship,withitsvividperceptionsandquickenedemotions,isagreatopportunityforEvolution;andtoinstituteandlengthenreasonablyaperiodsorichinimpressionisoneofitslatestandhighestefforts。Togivelovetime,indeed,hasbeenallalong,andthroughagreatvarietyofarrangements,thechiefmeansofestablishingitontheearth。Unfortunately,thelessonofNaturehereisbeingalltooslowlylearned,evenamongnationswithitsopenbookbeforethem。
Insomeofthegreatestofcivilizedcountriesrealmutualknowledgebetweentheyouthofthesexesisunattainable;marriagesaremadeonlybyahigherkindofpurchase,andthesupremestepinlifeistakeninthedark。Whateversafeguardsthismethodprovides,itcannotbefinal,norcanthosenationsrisetoanyexaltedsocialheightormoralgreatnesstillsomechangeoccurs。
Ithasbeengivenespeciallytoonenationtoleadtheworldinitsassaultuponthismistakenlaw,andtodemonstratetomankindthatintheunconstrainedandartlessrelationsofyouthliehighersafeguardsthanthepoliteconventionsofsocietycanafford。ThepeopleofAmericahaveprovedthattheblendingofthesweetcurrentsofdifferentfamily-livesinsocialintercourse,inrecreation,and——mostoriginalofall——ineducation,cantakeplacefreelyandjoyouslywithoutanysacrificeofman'sreverenceforwoman,orwoman'sreverenceforherself;and,springingoutofthesenaturallymingledlives,theremustmoreandmorecomethosesacredandhappyhomeswhicharethesurestguaranteesforthemoralprogressofanation。Solongasthefirstconcernofacountryisforitshomes,itmatterslittlewhatitseekssecondorthird。LongbeforeEvolutionshoweditsscientificinterestinthisfirstsocialaggregate,andproclaimeditthestrategicpointinmoralprogress,poetry,philosophy,andhistoryassignedthesamegreatplacetoFamily-life。Theonepoint,indeed,whereallstudentsofthepastagree,whereallprophetsofthefuturemeet,whereallthesciencesfrombiologytoethicsareenthusiasticallyatone,isintheirfaithintheimperishablepotentialitiesofthisyetmostsimpleinstitution。
Withallthesebarriersremoveditmightnowbesupposedthattheprocesswasatlastcomplete。ButoneofthesurprisesofEvolutionhereawaitsus。Allthearrangementsarefinishedtofantheflameoflove,yetoutofnoneofthemwasloveitselfbegotten。Theideathattheexistenceofsexaccountsfortheexistenceofloveisuntrue。
Marriageamongearlyraces,aswehaveseen,hasnothingtodowithlove。
Amongsavagepeoplesthephenomenoneverywhereconfrontsusofweddedlifewithoutagrainoflove。Lovethenisnonecessaryingredientofthesexrelation;itisnotanoutgrowthofpassion。Loveislove,andhasalwaysbeenlove,andhasneverbeenanythinglower。Whence,then,cameit?IfneithertheHusbandnortheWifebestowedthisgiftupontheworld,Whodid?ItwasALittleChild。Tillthisappeared,Man'saffectionwasnon-existent;
Woman'swasfrozen。TheMandidnotlovetheWoman;theWomandidnotlovetheMan。ButonedayfromitsMother'sveryheart,fromashrinewhichherhusbandnevervisitednorknewwasthere,whichsheherselfdaredscarceacknowledge,aChilddrewforththefirstfreshbudofaLovewhichwasnotPassion,aLovewhichwasnotselfish,aLovewhichwasanincensefromitsMaker,andwhosefragrancefromthathourwentforthtosanctifytheworld。Later,longlater,throughthesametinyandunconsciousintermediary,thefather'ssoulwastouched。Andoneday,intheloveofalittlechild,FatherandMothermet。
Thatthisisthetruelineageoflove,thatithasdescendednotfromHusbandsandWivesbutthroughchildren,isprovedbythesimpleststudyofsavagelife。LoveforchildrenisalwaysapriorandastrongerthingthanlovebetweenFatherandMother。TheindifferenceoftheHusbandtohisWife——thoughoftengreatlyexaggeratedbyanthropology——isalltoomanifest,andthroughoutwholeregionstheWifedoesnotlovebutonlyfearsherHusband。Forthechildrenontheotherhandbothparentshavealmostalwaysaregard。TheuniversalityofaMother'sLoveisoneoftherevelationsoftravel。Evenamongcannibals,wheretheshockingtreatmentofWivesbytheirHusbandsisindailyevidence,acaseofcrueltytochildrenfromtheMother'sside——apartfrominfanticide,whichhasarationaleofitsown——israrelyheardof。Thestatusofchildrenifnotidealformsamoststrikingcontrasttothegeneralmoralandsociallevel:
andonecannotbutdecidethattheyhavebeenunconsciouslythetruemoralteachersoftheworld。HadtheinstitutionoftheFamilydependedonSexandnotonaffectionitwouldprobablyneverhaveenduredforanytime。
Loveiseternal;Sex,transient。Itsunbridledexpressioninindividualnatures,anditsrecklessnesswhenthwarted,havegivenrisetoexaggeratedideasofitspower。Inalluncontrolledforms,however,itbecomessoimmediateamenacetosocialorderthatifitdoesnotdieoutinself-destructionitischeckedbythecommunityandforcedintolawfulchannels。Theonlythingthatcouldbeartheheavyburdenofsocialorderandadaptitselftoeverychangeandfreshdemandwastheindestructiblysolid,yetelastic,strengthoflove。ThecareandcultureoflovethereforebecamethenceforththefirstgreatchargeofEvolution,andeveryobstructiontoitspathbegantobesweptaway。Whateverfacilitiescouldfurtheritscareerweregraduallyadopted,andchangeswhichsoonbegantopassoverthefaceofallhumansocietiesseemedbutpartsofonegreatconspiracytohastenitsfinalreign。
ForaprolongedandprotectiveFatherhood,onceintroducedintotheworld,wasimmediatelytakenchargeofbyNaturalSelection。Thechildrenwhohadfatherstofightforthemgrewup;thosewhohadnotwerekilledorstarved。ThelengtheningoftheperiodduringwhichFatherandMotherkepttogethermeantdoubleprotectionforthelittleones;andthemoretheykepttogetherforthefirstfewdaysorweeks,andthemoretheFatherhelpedtodefendmotherandchild,themorechanceforallthreeintheend。ThepicturewhichKoppenfellsdrawsofthefemaleGorillaandheryoungensconcedinanestupontheforkofatree,whileGorillaperesatallnightatthefootwithhisbackagainstthetrunktoprotectthemfromtheleopards,isafairobject-lessoninthefirstorprotectivestageoftheFather'sEvolution。WhenManpassed,however,asheprobablydid,fromthefrugivoroustothecarnivorousstate,theFatherhadtheadditionalresponsibilityofkeepinghisfamilyinfood。
ItwouldbeimpossibleforaMothertohuntforgameandattendtoheryoung;andforalongtimetheyoungthemselveswereuselessinthechase,andmustbeentirelydependentontheirparents'bounty。ButthismeanspromotiontotheFather。Heisnotonlyprotectorbutfood-provider。Itisimpossibleto。believethatinprocessoftimethedischargeofthisofficedidnotbringsomefaintsatisfactionstohimself,thatthemeresightofhisoffspringfedinsteadoffamisheddidnotgivehimacertainpleasure。Andthoughthepleasureatfirstmayhavebeennomorethantheabsenceoftheannoyancetheycausedbytheclamorousnessoftheirwant,itbecameastimulustoexertion,andledintheendtorudimentaryformsofsympathyandself-denial。
Onceestablishedintheworldasawinningforce,lovecouldonlyyieldtoagreaterforcethanitself,andgreaterforcethereisnone。InthehandsofNaturalSelection,therefore,itranitscourse。Whateverphysiologicaladjustmentscontinuedtogoonbeneaththesurface,ethicalfactorsnowdeterminedextinctionorsurvival。Badparentsmeanstarvedchildren,andstarvedchildrenwillbereplacedintheStruggleforLifebyfull-fedchildren,andereafewgenerationsparentswithoutlovewillexistnomore。Thechild,ontheotherhand,whichhasdrunkmostdeeplyofitsFather'soritsMother'slovelivestohandonthatwhichhassparedittoasucceedingrace。Howmuchofaffectionishandedon,orhowlittle,mattersnot,forHeredityworkswiththefinestmicroscope,andsees,andseizes,theinvisible。Inasecondchild,rearedbyparentsonedegreemorelovingthanthelast,thisultimateparticleoflovewillgrowalittlemore,andeachsucceedingFamilyinthisroyallinewillbericherintheelementswhichmakeforprogressthanthelast。
WhenwereachthehumanFamily,wefindthatthissimplecombinationwasalreadystrongenoughtobecomethenucleusofthesocialandnationallifeoftheworld。ForthemomentthenewforcesofSympathy,Brotherhood,Self-denial,orLove,begantoworkamongtheisolatedunitswhichmadeupprimitiveMan,thewholecompositionandcharacteroftheaggregatebegantochange。Soonerorlaterintherecurringnecessitiesofsavageexistencetherecameanopportunityforthemembersofthefirstcombination,thelittlegroupofFather,Mother,andSons,toacttogether。
HoweverunworthilythisprimitivegroupmeritedthenameofFamily,therewasherewhatatthattimewasoffinalimportance——theelementsofphysicalstrength。HewhoformerlystoodaloneintheStruggleforLifenowfoundhimselfbackedonoccasionbyaninnercircle。ThosewhooutsidethiscircleventuredtoopposeoroffendanindividualwithinithadtheFamilytoreckonwith。Endsweregainedbythenewalliancewhichwereunattainablesingle-handedbyanyindividualmemberofthetribe,andwhetherenlistedtoevadedisasterorsecureaprey,toresistaninjusticeoravengeawrong,theoddshenceforthandalwayswereinfavourofthecombination。
Whenitisrememberedhow,owingtothecomparativeequalityofthecompetitorsintheconflictofsavageexistence,evenaninfinitesimaladvantageononesideortheotherdetermineshealthorstarvation,survivalorextinction,theimportanceofthefirstfeebleeffortatfederationmustberecognized。
Shouldertoshoulderhasbeenthewatchwordallthroughhistoryofnationaldevelopment。Almostfromtheveryfirst,indeed,theFamilyandnottheindividualmusthavebeentheunitofTriballife;andasFamiliesgrewmoreandmoredefinite,theybecametherecognizedpiersofthesocialstructureandgaveafirststabilitytotheraceofmen。
ButgreatasarethephysicaladvantagesoftheFamily,theethicaluses,evenintheearlydaysofitsexistence,placethisinstitutionattheheadofallthecreationsofEvolution。FortheFamilyisnotonlyitsgreatestcreation,butitsgreatestinstrumentforfurthercreation。Theethicalchangesbeginalmostthemomentitisformed。Oneimmediateeffect,forinstance,oftheformationofFamilygroupswastotakeofffromanysingleindividualtheperpetualstrainoftheStruggleforLife。TheFamilyasawholemustsometimesfight,buttheresponsibilityandthedutyarenowdistributed,andthosewhowereoncesolelypreoccupiedwiththepersonalstrugglewillhaverespites,duringwhichotherthingswilloccupytheirminds。Attentionthuscalledofffromenvironingenemies,themembersoftheFamilywill,asitwere,discoveroneanother。Newrelationsamongthemwillspringup,newadjustmentstooneanother'spresenceandtooneanother'sneeds,andhithertounknownelementsofcharacterwillbegraduallycalledtothesurface。Thatunselfishness,insomerudeform,shouldnowgrowupisanecessityoflivingtogether。
AmancannotbeamemberofaFamilyandremainanutteregoist。Hisinterestsareperforcedivided,andthoughtheFamilygroupisasmallsurfaceforunselfishnesstospreadtoandtopractiseon,nogreaterfeatcouldasyetbeattempted,andEvolutionneverrunsrisksoftoorapiddevelopmentorover-strain。WiththeincorporationoftheFamilyintoaClanorTribetheareawillpresentlybeextended,andthenecessityofcontrollingself-interestmorethoroughly,ormergingitinawiderinterest,becomemoreobligatory。
Buttopreparethealtruisticsentimentforsogreatanabnegation,thesimplerdisciplineoftheFamilywasrequired。HowfirmlyFamiliesintimebecameweldedtogetherinmutualinterestandsupport,andhowmuchcrudeAltruismthisimplies,isevidentfromtheplaceofFamilyfeudsandthepowerofgreatFamiliesandHousesbothinancientandmodernhistory。
AstrikinginstanceistheVendetta。ToavengeaFamilyinsultincountrieswherethisprevailswasasacreddutytoalltherelatives,andeventhelastsurvivingmemberwillinglygaveuphislifetovindicateitshonour。
SostrongindeedsometimeshasgrownthepowerofindividualFamiliesthatthemoredesirablespreadofAltruismtotheNationwasthreatened,andwiderinterestssomuchforgottenthattheFamilybecametheenemyoftheState。Nothingcouldmoreforciblyshowthetremendouspowerofself-developmentcontainedwithintheFamilycircle,andthesolidityandstrengthtowhichitcangrow,thanthat,timeaftertimeinhistory,ithashadtobecrushedandbrokenupbyalltheforcesoftheState。
AmongotherelementsinhumannaturefosteredintheFamilyisoneofexceptionalinterest。TheattempthasbeenmadetoshowthatfromtheinevitablerelationsofearlyFamilylife,thesenseofDutyfirstdawnedupontheworld。Thethemeistoogreat,toointricate,andtoodangeroustoopenunderthelimitationsofthepresentinquiry,forthesedenyustheappealtoSociety,toReligion,andeventotheConscienceofthehigherMan。ButitisduetotheFather,whoseEvolutionwearetracing,thattheshareheissupposedbysomeauthoritiestotakeinitshouldbeatleastnamed。
Thatmoralityingeneralhassomethingtodowiththerelationsofpeopletooneanotherisevident,aseveryoneknows,fromthemerederivationoftheword。Mores,moralsareinthefirstinstancecustoms,thecustomsorwayswhichpeoplehavewhentheyaretogether。Now,theFamilyisthefirstoccasionofimportancewherewegetpeopletogether。AndastherearenotonlyanumberofpeopleinaFamily,butdifferentkindsofpeople,therewillbeavarietyintherelationssubsistingbetweenthem,inthecustomswhichstereotypethemostfrequentlyrepeatedactionsnecessitatedbytheserelations,andinthemoodsandattitudesofmindaccompanyingthem。Leavingoutofsightdifferencesofkindamongbrothersandsisters,considertheprobablymoredivergentandcertainlymoredominantinfluencesofFatherandMother。
WhattherelationofchildtoMotherhascrystallizedintowehavesufficientlymarked——itisarelationofdirectdependence,anditsproductisLove。
ButtheFatherisawhollydifferentinfluence。WhatattitudedoestheChildtakeupinthisaustererpresence,andwhatwaysofacting,whatcustoms,mores,morals,areengrainedinthechild'smindthroughit?TheacknowledgedpositionoftheFatherinmostearlytribesisheadoftheFamily。Tothechildren,andgenerallyeventotheMother,herepresentsAuthority。Heisthechildren'schief。BachovenhasfamiliarizeduswiththeideaofaMatriarchate,orMaternalFamily;butalthoughexceptionaltribeshavegivensupremacytotheMother,theruleisfortheFathertobesupreme。AsheadoftheFamily,therefore,itwashisbusinesstomaketheFamilylaws。NodoubttheMotheralsomadelaws;buttheFather,asthemoreterribleperson,exactedobediencewithgreaterseverity,andhislawsacquiredmoreforce。Todowhatwaspleasinginhiseyeswasanecessitywiththechildren,andhisfavourorhisfrownbecamestandardsofwhatwas"good"andwhatwas"bad。"Lowasthisstandardwas——thefearorfavourofasavageFather——itwasabeginningofrightmores,goodconduct,propermanners。Plantinthemind,orevokefromit,theideaofactinginagivenwaywithreferencetosomehalf-dozendailytrifleswhendoneinthepresenceofoneauthoritativeindividual,andEvolutionhasalreadyfoundsomethingtoworkon。Thechildrenhavegotsix,ifnottencommandments。Extendthehalf-dozenthingsdonerightlytoawholedozen,andthentoascore,andthentoahundred;andletitbecomehabitualtodothesethingsrightly。Whentherightdoingofthesethingscommendsthedoertooneperson,hewillnextbeapttocommendhimselfbysimilarconducttootherpersons,iftheirstandardhappenstobethesame。Whethergoodbehaviourpurchasesfavourorsimplysucceedsinevadingpenaltiesisatfirstimmaterial。Allthatisrequired,underwhateversanctions,isthatsomestandardofgoodorbadshallarise。Noabstractsenseofduty,ofcourse,hereexists;noperfectlaw;itisapurelypersonalandlocalcode;buttheworddutyhasatleastreceivedafirstimperfectmeaning;
andtheFather,insomeroughway,formsanexternalconsciencetothosebeneathhim。
SuchisthetentativetheoryoftheadvocatesofEvolutionalEthics。Itmayormaynotbeapossibleaccountoftheriseofasenseofobligation,butitiscertainthatitdoesnotaccountforthewholeofit。Why,also,thatparticularthingshouldbeelicitedunderthecircumstancesdescribedisanunansweredquestion。Inattemptingtotraceitsrise,norationaleappearsofitsorigin;allproofs,inshort,ofitsevolutiontakeforgranteditspreviousexistence。Alatentthinghasbecomeactive;aninvisiblethinghasbecomeapparent。Inonesensearelationhasbeencreated,inanothersenseaqualityinthatrelationhasbeenrevealed。Anewexperimentuponhumannaturehasbeentried;anewdiscoveryofitspropertieshasbeentheresult。
Thatthesemoralelements,ontheotherhand,musthaveabeginningsomewhereinspaceandtimeiscertainenough。NotlessnecessarytotheworldthantheMother'sgiftofLoveisthetwinofferingoftheFather——Righteousness。Andif,almostbeforethesoulisborn,theshadowyoutlineofamoralordershouldbegintoloomoutinhistory,thelaterphasesandthelatersanctionslosenothingoftheirquality,areallthemorewonderfulandallthemoredivine,becausemetbymoraladumbrationsinthedistantpast。Ifthelaterchildrenhadtheirtencommandmentsgiventheminoneway,theycannotgrudgethattheworld'searlierchildrenshouldhavebeengiventheirtwoorthreecommandmentsinanotherway——anotherwaywhich,nevertheless,didweknowall,mightturnouttobebutanotherphaseofthesameway。ButitisimpossibleeventoapproachtheEvolutionofMoralityuntilwehavecarriedMansomestagesfurtheruphisAscent。Itisonlywhenhereachesthesocialstage,whenhebecomesaggregatedintoclans,tribes,andnations,thatthisproblemopens。ForthepresentwemustcontentourselveswithhavingwitnessedhisarrivalintheHumanFamily——thestarting-pointandthresholdofthetruemorallife。
Foralongtime,itistrue,theFamilycircle,asacircle,wasincomplete。Machinerymustitselfevolvebeforeitsproductsevolve。Scarcelydefinedatall,brokenassoonasformed,theearliercirclesallowedtheirstrongestforcestoescapealmostatthemomenttheygenerated。Butthewallsgrewhigherandhigherwiththeadvanceofhistory。
Theleakagebecamelessandless。WiththeChristianerathemachinerywascomplete;thecirclefinallyclosedin,andbecameasecludedshrinewherethecultureofeverythingholyandbeautifulwascarriedon。Thepathbywhichthisidealconsummationwasreachedwasnot,aswehaveseen,astraightpath;norhastheintegrityoftheinstitutionbeenalwayspreservedthroughthelatercenturies。Thedifficultyofrealizingtheidealmaybejudgedofbythefewnessofthenationsnowlivingwhohavereachedit,andbythemultitudeofpeoplesandtribeswhohavevanishedfromtheearthwithoutattaining。Fromthefailuretofulfilsomeoneorotheroftherequiredconditionspeopleafterpeopleandnationafternationhavecometogetheronlytodisperse,andleavenolegacybehindexceptthelesson——asyetinfewcasesunderstood——ofwhytheyfailed。
Yetwhethertheroadbestraightordeviousisoflittlemoment。Theonesignificantthingisthatitrises。WehavereachedastageinEvolutionatwhichphysiologicalgainsareguardedandaccentuated,ifnotinanethicalinterest,atleastbyethicalfactorsbecomingutilizedbynaturalselection。Henceforthaffectionbecomesapowerintheworld;andwhateverphysiologicaladjustmentscontinuetoperfectthemselves,themostattachedFamilieswillhaveabetterchanceofsurvivingandoftransmittingtheirmoralcharacteristicstosucceedinggenerations。ThecompletionofthearchofFamilyLifeformsoneofthegreat,ifnotthegreatestofthelandmarksofhistory。IfthecrowningworkofOrganicEvolutionistheMammalia,theconsummationoftheMammaliaistheFamily。Physically,psychically,ethically,theFamilyisthemasterpieceofEvolution。ThecreationofEvolution,itwasdestinedtobecomethemostactiveinstrumentandallywhichEvolutionhaseverhad。Forwhatisitsevolutionarysignificance?Itisthegeneratorandtherepositoryoftheforceswhichalonecancarryoutthesocialandmoralprogressoftheworld。Theretheyrallywhentheybecomeenfeebled,theretheirexcessesarecounterbalanced,andthencetheyradiateout,refinedandreinforced,todotheirholywork。
Lookingatthemeredynamicsofthequestion,theFamilycontainsallthemachinery,andnearlyallthepower,forthemoraleducationofmankind。Feebly,butadequately,intheearlychaptersofMan'shistoryitfulfilleditsfunctionofnursingLove,theMotherofallmorality,andRighteousness,theFatherofallmorality,sopreparingaparentageforallthebeautifulspiritualchildrenwhichinlateryearsshouldspringfromthem。Iflifehenceforthistogoonatall,itmustbeabetterlife,amorelovinglife,amoreabundantlife;andthispremiumuponLovemeans——ifitmeansanything——thatEvolutionistakinghenceforthanethicaldirection。ItisnomorepossibletointerpretNaturephysicallyfromthispointthantointerpreta"HolyFamily"ofRaphael'sintermsofthematerialstructureofcanvasorthequalitiesofpigments。Canvasmaybecoarseorfine,pigmentsmaybevegetableormineral;butwhetherthecoloursbecrushedoutofmadderorgroundoutofarsenicorleadisofnoimportancenow。Oncethesethingswereimportant;byinfinitelyslowprocessesNatureformedthem;bycleverartsthecolourmanpreparedthem。
Butthe"HolyFamily"didnotliepotentiallyinthemadder-bud,norintheearthwiththeleadandarsenic,norinthelaboratorywiththecolourman。
HewhoclaimsNatureforMatterandPhysicalforcemakesthesameassumptionthatthesewoulddoiftheyclaimedthepainting。InafartruersensethanRaphaelproducedhis"HolyFamily"NaturehasproducedaHolyFamily。
NotforcenturiesbutformillenniumstheFamilyhassurvived。Timehasnottarnishedit;nolaterarthasimproveduponit;norgeniusdiscoveredanythingmorelovely;norreligionanythingmoredivine。Fromthebee'scellandthebutterfly'swingmendrawwhattheycalltheArgumentfromDesign;butitisinthekingdomswhichcomewithoutobservation,inthesegreatimmaterialorderingswhichScienceisbutbeginningtoperceive,thatthepurposesofCreationarerevealed。
[91]Westermarck'sHistoryofHumanMarriage,p。26。
[92]Op。cit。,pp。42-50。