Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 2.djvu/568

 554 THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY

nature, is so impressed on great numbers of ordinary folk as to become for them an imperious ideal. Where as in militant soci- eties, or in industrial societies during war time, military qualities are deemed all-important, we find that all manner of homage is paid to the soldier type. Literature glorifies it, eloquence crowns it, religion canonizes it, multitudes applaud and cheer it. Every- where that type is honored, reverenced, sung, and praised. Healths and toasts are drunk to the soldier ; women smile on him ; men bow down to him. Art, literature, oratory, worship, monuments, statues, festivals, commemorations, and observances unite in per- petually reminding men of soldier qualities, exploits, and prizes,

Besides these streams of suggestion all playing on one point, ..." admiration is further kindled by flashing before the dazzled eye those aspects of the soldier's life which are adventurous, dra- matic, or picturesque, while carefully keeping in the background its cruelties, hardships, and agonies ; by gracing it with attract- ive imagery ; by expurgating history of the horrors of war and literature of all disparagement of the soldier ; by referring to soldier worth on the most momentous and solemn occasions; by bringing it forward when habitual self-interested prudence is thrown off its guard in a sudden rush of emotion ; by getting it associated with all that is beautiful or holy ; by identifying it with the defense of the roof -tree from the torch, of ancestral graves from the vandal, of women from the ravisher, and of chil- dren from the destroyer.

By thus marshaling every influence and by using for lever- age every inclination and passion of the human heart it is possible ,to achieve wonderful results. And yet I have recited but a tithe of the ways in which a transmitted type is gradually stamped upon the rising generation. To set them all forth would be to describe the making of man. Of Chinese education Professor Mary S. Barnes says: "The influence of conscious education is mighty. In this study we have seen this environment actually making mzn, and constantly making men millions of them, after a desired pattern." 1

1 History of Education, No. III.