ances.

that if an optician wanted to sell me an instru- organic adaptations. The arm, the fist, the ment which had all these defects, I should think long hammer, the club, the sharpened club or L. myself quite justified in blaming his careless- spear, the knife-point, etc., are all apparently ness in the strongest terms, and giving him equally advantageous variations, the main difback his instrument.” Some of these defects ference being that some of these are in the are, for example, chromatic aberration, spheri- organism and others are out of it. Both may cal aberration, defective centering of the cornea be inherited, both are subject to the laws of and lens (astigmatism), defective transparency, natural selection, survival of the fittest, etc. floating corpuscles, the “blind spot," etc. How- Tools, traps, weapons, etc., by means of ever, if the eye were more perfect as an instru- which the hunting savage sustains or defends ment of optical precision, it would be less per- himself, are all extensions of bodily contrivfect as an eye. For the eye to be useful to the

Fire gives him a second digestive appaorganism possessing it, it must be neither a ratus by means of which hard and stringy roots perfect telescope nor a perfect microscope. Are rendered digestible, and poisonous roots In the same way the fine edge of a razor ren- and herbs innocuous. Fire and clo:hing are exders it unfit for cutting wood.

tra-organic contrivances which make him more The human body is such a masterful piece of or less independent of seasons, climates, and machinery that it furnishes an illustration or geographical restrictions. The printed word epitome of all mechanics, all hydraulics, all makes even the dead to speak, and multiplies machinery of every kind. As one writer has the voice a million fold. The press and its said:

products are extra-organic tongues and memThere are more than 310 mechanical movements ories by means of which the people of to-day known to mechanics to-day, and all of these are but

may speak to untold future generations. modifications of those found in the human body. Here are found all the bars, levers, joints, pulleys,

ORGANIC HEREDITY AND SOCIAL HEREDITY pumps, pipes, wheels, and axles, ball-and-socket move

By organic heredity I mearr, roughly speak ments, beams, girders, trusses, buffers, arches, columns,

ing, the transmission of the characteristics of cables, and supports known to science. At every point man's best mechanical work can be shown to be but

the parents to the child, and that at birth. As adaptations and extensions of processes of the human to whether the acquired characteristics of the body, a revelation of first principles used in nature. parents are transmitted congenitally or whether

If, therefore, our sense organs are tools and the Weismann theory of heredity formulated instruments, no less are tools and instruments as the "continuity of the germ-plasm” be true, sense and motor organs-extra-organic sense that is not the question here. The line of deand motor organs. It is obvious that our sense

velopment here indicated points, however organs are indefinitely multiplied and improved strongly, in the direction of the Weismann by such extra-organic sense-organs, as the mi- theory of the non-transmission of acquired croscope, telescope, resonator, and all the in- characteristics. finite variety of tools, instruments, and ma- By social heredity I mean the transmission chines which are so many extensions of hands, from parents to the children of the improved feet, etc.” The instruments of locomotion on environment. In organic heredity the environland and sea are so many extensions of our ment of the lower animal—the fish, the bird, locomotor mechanism. Our voice we can throw for instance-remains practically the same genaround the world in a few minutes, and our eration after generation, its progress dependeyes pierce the hitherto untraveled oceans of ing almost exclusively upon the inheritance of ether. It was a gigantic stride toward civiliza- variations within the organism which have tion when the early anthropoid or savage first proven themselves to have been advantageous swung a club (accidental advantageous varia- to its ancestors in the struggle for existence. tion doubtless!), first perceived the felling Its progress has therefore been infinitely slow. power of a stone in the fist, first discovered It depends for its progress mainly upon the fire, and first began to lay the foundations of improvement of its sense-organs, and these take that truly royal fortune of ours, our extra- ages to perfect themselves.

Let us take an illustration. The hairy cover- pendently of bodily or mental superiority. ing, having lost its importance, bas disappeared

Without the accumulation of capital the arts could not in certain of the mammalia. Whales and dol

progress; and it is chiefly through their power that the

civilized races have extended, and are now everywhere phins have a naked skin, for the most part

extending, their range, so as to take the places of the entirely devoid of hair, although they are un- lower races.' doubtedly descended from hairy ancestors, and

Let us take another illustration. Professor even now rudimentary hairs may be detected

Keane in his recent work on “Ethnology" asin certain parts of the body by the aid of the

serts that the comparative anatomist is discovmicroscope. The disappearance of the hair ering that language, as we have it, could hardly may be explained on the ground of natural se- have existed before the time of our anthropoid lection. Let an immense thickness of blubber

ancestors, seeing that from the standpoint of be developed beneath the skin of the whale and

the comparative anatomist it may be shown the warmth of an additional covering becomes

that the muscles for speech did not exist in the unnecessary. Of the group of seals, however,

ancestors of the anthropoids. It may be sugall the smaller species possess a thick coat of

gested then that by the agency of natural selecfur; while, among the larger kinds, the walrus

tion such advantageous variations as articulahas but a scanty covering of bristles. because, tory muscles, as they arose, were quickly like the whale, it has developed a layer of blub

perpetuated and made a part of the organic ber, which is amply sufficient to protect its

inheritance. Language, or rather the capacity huge body from the cold.

for language, would arise by a process of natHere we have a case of organic heredity in ural selection and in direct proportion to the which the adaptation to the environment must increase and accumulation of adaptations in the take place within the organism. With limited mechanism for articulation. This would be orendowments there is possible to the animal pos- ganic inheritance. On the other hand, the sessing them only a limited sphere of action

wind-instrument, the organ, the harp, the telwithin a limited environment. But suppose ephone, etc., are extra-organic sense and motor that by some fortunate arrangement the animal

organs, capable at will of being made a part of in question could put on or off this thick layer the organism and making possible enormous of blubber as it needed it, the consequence advances in culture and civilization. would be that it could migrate to different

In this way man's organism is indefinitely limates and largely increase its sphere of ac

extended, embracing both persons and things. tivity. This would involve a greater potential

It extends to all persons with whom he has inity and modifiability in the organism. In the

telligence or sympathy, to all agencies or influprogress of the human race we see such a de

ences that reach him. Does he read' Aristot.e, mand met. By the steady process of natural

his organism extends back two thousand years; selection the adaptations become more and more

he reads the latest cables from Australia and extra-organic, and the plasticity of the nervous

Japan and is present at the antipodes. Every system greater. Man uses clothes, builds sheds

book, every newspaper, every work of sculpand houses, discovers fire, cooks food other

ture, painting, or music, to which he has acwise indigestible, invents (accidental variat on

cess is an extension of his organism. Place the at first) the hammer, club, tools, weapons, etc.

savage in the same conditions and note the Thus by means of social heredity there en- difference. sues the possibility of an accumulation of capi

Note also the way in which these extra-ortal. In a far wider sense than Darwin meant it

ganic organs are looked upon as part and parwe can say that

cel of the organism. At times more so. You Man accumulates property and bequeaths it to his

risk your life to save some of them. Amidst children, so that the children of the rich have an advantage over the poor in the race for success, inde

the carnage of Sedan a battery advances, swept batteries. Zola, in that great masterpiece of and useless by being integral parts of it. They his, "Le Debaole,” thus describes the scene: are handed down by social heredity. The field That beloved creature, the gun, grouped a little

of the organism is widened more and more, but family around her, whose members were closely united not at the expense of the organism proper. by the bonds of a common occupation. The gun was One very important requirement, however, indeed the connecting link, the one object of concern; must be met by the organism proper to enable it was for her that they all existed, the caisson, the

it to utilize and adapt itself to these extra-orwagons, the horses, even the men themselves. And from all this sprang the great cohesion of the battery, ganic arrangements. That requirement is a a steadfastness and tranquillity such as prevail in

great plasticity, modifiability, and potentiality happy families.

in the central nervous system, especially in the Furthermore, these extra-organic adapta- brain.

ARTHUR ALLIN, tions do not as a rule perish with the organism,

Professor of Philosophy, a great advantage for descendants. Neither do Boulder, Col. University of Colorado. they make the organism altogether unwieldy

[Concluded in next issue.]

EDUCATIONAL AND SOCIAL PROBLEMS

Public Guardianship of Children ant, neglected, abandoned, and ill-treated chilEDITOR NORTH WESTERN MONTHLY—The dis- dren, and the nature of its obligation is such cussion of the respective merits of state care

that it may not acquit itself of responsibility in and society care of children is of little profit supervisory work by delegating its power in when attended by disparaging criticism intended grants to incorporated societies and neglecting to exalt one system at the expense of the other.

their proper supervision. The field of child-saving benevolence is a large The state is the foster mother of every boy one, and it affords ample opportunity for the and girl bound to service under its permission, service of every agency approved in practice, and it must know that the conditions of conand upon lines of work best adapted to the re- tracts disposing of their persons during minorsources of each for performing the same. Aity are fairly and humanely executed; and to few fundamental principles which constitute do this, it must require the reports and mainthe creed of all child-saving agencies need not tain the inquiry necessary to correct judgment. be repeated for the purpose of argument in In the very important work of aiding the support of one system, for they are common to rehabilitation of home life, the institution is all, and the differences of Opinion (if there indispensable. The State Public School for really are any) concern details of procedure Dependant and Neglected Children is the anchor for accomplishing the same desired result. of encouragement to every worthy father and

1. The family is the unit of social order. mother who are battling against odds to save

2. A good home is the best place for child the “Roof-Tree" and do justice in the fair culture.

support and education of their children. It puts 3. The rehabilitation of the natural home, cheer into the hearts, and strength into the arms, endangered or destroyed by vice or misfortune, which otherwise would fail under the despair of is the first concern of society.

adversity. 4. The successful placing of children in alien If there be a mother whose tears fall in the homes depends upon the care exercised in the washtub as she thinks of her boy upon the congenial fitting of a child to a home which may street, while she battles for his comfort in the open for it, and the exercise of careful guar- home, the great heart of the state bids her be dianship over its welfare during the period of of good cheer, takes her boy under its care, minority.

gives him schooling and training, and returns The state is the public guardian of all depend to her a manly belpmnto.

cases.

The lights in the windows of the State Public for the collateral reading of teachers and puSchools for Dependant and Neglected Children pils in geography, history, science, and literawhich burn in Michigan, Wisconsin, Minne- ture. He should regard the children as bis sota, Kansas, and some other states, honor the most important patrons; those whom he can statesmanship of a humane civilization, and are help the most. The children should have free efficient agencies for the rescue and rehabilita- access to the library shelves. tion of threatened homes.

The community should be led to regard the In dealing with children who have become library as a necessary part of a system of pubdemoralized through neglect, the training of a lic education, no more to be done without than good institution reforms the child, and fits for the common school. a successful home placing, which might other- If it is the duty of the state to see that iis wise fail. This fact has finally been recognized citizens know how to read, it is certainly none by the New York Children's Aid Society, which the less its duty to see that they are so trained now employs the farm home of the society as a that the ability to read will be a blessing place of detention and training for all such rather than a curse.

A free public library is the adult's common These things, and more, constitute the work school. of an institution, while there is left to societies Pupils should know what a library is, what the work of dealing with friendly visiting, it contains, and how to use it A child can no temporary aid, and the transfer of young chil- more be wisely left to get his knowledge and dren not in need of the helps of special train- te for literature by himself than to get his ing to the homes opening for them.

mathematical or scientific training in the same The growth of the idea of the public guar- way. Children must be trained to use the lidianship of children has been rapid during brary as they are trained to do other things. recent years, and there is little doubt but what Pupils should learn to read with economy of it will soon be conceded by all students of the time by making use of page headings, tables of subject that the state may not permit inter- contents, reviews, Poole's Index, card cataference with child-life in any manner, without logues, and other helps. discharging the duty of supervising the work The destiny of a child is not affected by the accomplished under its permit of authority. ability to read, but by the use he makes of that

C. E. FAULKNER. ability. Minneapolis, Minn.

The library should be made an indispensable

adjunct of the school. The school trains for a Public Libraries and Public Schools

few years, the library for a lifetime. HERE should be most cordial relations be- Pupils should be trained to read topically,

tween the school and the library. The getting from many books the information they

librarian should know the school and its want on any special subject. work, in a general way, as a very important Normal schools and all schools having to part of his work, just as the teacher should do with the training of teachers should train know the library and its methods as a part of their students in the use of books and libraries. her work.

The ability to read is merely a means to an The librarian should meet with the teachers end. as often as practicable for the discussion of [Recommendation of the Committee on the their common work. If possible the librarian Relation of Public Libraries to Public Schools. should occasionally address the older pupils. Appointed by the Board of Directors of the

Teachers should be members of various li- N. E. A., at Washington, July, 1898. J. C. brary committees, especially of the purchasing Dana, Librarian of City Library, Springfield, committee.

Mass., Chairman; Frank A. Hutchins, SecreThe librarian should make out frequent bul- tary Wisconsin Free Library Commission, letins for school use. He should suggest books Madison, Wis.; Chas. McMurry (representing

T"

EY

ences.

the Council of Education), State Normal Uni- dex should be kept of all such annotated lists versity, Normal, III. ; Sherman Williams, Super- met with in unlikely places, and as the knowlintendent of Schools, Glens Falls, N.Y.; M. Lou- edge of books and authors grows the list of ise Jones, State Normal School, Emporia, Kan.) those whose name and record are immediate

guarantee of good work will lengthen. To one Selection of Books For Public Libraries

who handles many books there soon comes a

regard for the material make-up of the book as II.

well as for the contents, and to such a one the VERY book should be estimated and judged publisher's name is a matter of instinctive noas to first, author; second, publisher; third, tice. To know the publishers is a difficult and

breadth of scope and interest; fourth, lit- valuable gift, because the relative merits and erary value; fifth, ethical value; sixth, expert demerits of the different houses are not disvalue. It must not be understood that a book cussed in trade journals or at library confermust square with every one of these points, but

It is valuable because there are as great the value of the book to the public library is differences between the relative literary value of lessened exactly in the proportion that it fails the lists of certain publishers as between the to fulfill these demands either in number or actual workmanship and appearance of their degree.

wares. Experience and close study and obserIn considering the author the chief point is vation are the best teachers. Some publishers his competence and fitness for writing on the lend or sell their imprint; reprint an old book subject. Who is he? What has he done, or in a new dress and fresh name with nothing to what has he written in the past? What sanc- indicate its previous appearance; pirate Engtion or right has he to treat this special theme? lish wares; a book which is known to be inHas be more than cursorily flitted through the

ferior is often printed and the public libraries land of which he writes a pretentious and ex- of the country relied upon to care for the edihaustive book? Has he more than a bowing tion. To our shame be it said the trust is too acquaintance with an era or an epic on which often justified, and will be until we give more have been spent years of study by famous care to the selection of our books and thus rid scholars? Is there reason, and what reason, to our profession from the often merited slur that think the new author has a new light to throw (I quote from a recent letter from a well-known upon the subject? Many things may help to a publishing house) “the librarians don't know tolerable reply to such questions as these. An a good book from a bad one, and most of them intelligent and constantly growing knowledge will buy anything in fiction that looks well.” of men and books will be increasingly useful, We deplore the flood of cheap fiction which

An acquaintance must also be had with the pours from the presses. Set the standard of scope, value, bias (if any), and authority of the book selection in our libraries where it ought leading critical reviews.

to be, and we will have made one great stride It would be invidious to attempt to state posi- towards bettering this melancholy condition. tively the most valuable of these reviews, but What right have we to cry out against poor for the average public library under 20,000 books when, on the testimony of the publishvolumes it seems to me that the following four ers themselves, the public libraries can be connames include those which will be most helpful fidently relied upon to buying an entire edition in the work, namely the Dial, the Critic, the of a poor book? Bookman, and the Literary World, and perhaps The librarian should be thoroughly familiar their value is in the order named. Some of with the specialties of each publisher. What these reviews print biographical notes of new lines, especially in fiction, are weak or unrewriters. The librarian should also be familiar liable with the different houses. with the best bibliographies and certainly of No less important is the knowledge of the all those that are annotated. These will inform imprints (for some there are) that stand always him as to the writer's previous work. An in- for thoroughly first-class and high-grade work