Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 10.djvu/437

Rh as a mother. The Berbers of the Atlas have a saying—attributed to their great sage, Sidi Hammu—which indicates the feelings of the men both toward women in general and toward their mothers. Sidi Hammu said: "Oh you women, you seed of the oleander tree, I should like to burn all of you, if my mother were not one of you."

As I said in the beginning of my paper, I could offer only a fragment. I have emphasized a few points which, I think, have often been more or less overlooked. But I have also been anxious to point out how little we know at present about the real causes on which the position of women in the various human societies depends. I dare say that some twenty years hence we shall know much more. Those who are interested in sociology should well understand that sociology is still in the making. But if kindly taken care of, it will no doubt grow rapidly. Hence all sociologists must hail with extreme gratification the foundation of the society which is now having its first meeting. As a foreigner, I think I may be allowed on this occasion to pay to its founders the tribute of continental esteem, and express the conviction, widely shared, that the new tree could not possibly have been planted in better soil.