Pagina 529 de 1391

To the doubts and queries raised by these 'social reformers'

respecting the relation of the sexes and the moral nature of man,

there is a sufficient answer, if any is needed. The difference

about them and us is really one of fact. They are speaking of man

as they wish or fancy him to be, but we are speaking of him as he

is. They isolate the animal part of his nature; we regard him as

a creature having many sides, or aspects, moving between good and

evil, striving to rise above himself and to become 'a little

lower than the angels.' We also, to use a Platonic formula, are

not ignorant of the dissatisfactions and incompatibilities of

family life, of the meannesses of trade, of the flatteries of one

class of society by another, of the impediments which the family

throws in the way of lofty aims and aspirations. But we are

conscious that there are evils and dangers in the background

greater still, which are not appreciated, because they are either

concealed or suppressed.