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 MOOT POINTS IN SOCIOLOGY 205

discrimination, they become differentiated as regards wealth or culture or mode of life. Hereupon ensues an invidious comparison of self with others, and the segregation of the members of a society into non-fraternizing classes or castes. Professor Veblen has made this process peculiarly his own. Stratification is, how- ever, limited by certain processes of socialization which tend to assimilate the members of different classes, and to oppose a barrier to the growth of extreme heterogeneity. These have been set forth by Tarde, Giddings, Baldwin, Royce, and Cooley.

Thus forms the crust, the firm fabric of arts, sciences, world- views, conventions, and institutions, upon which generations of men dwell in concord and security with perhaps no inkling of the time when this crust was fluid. But from time to time there occur elevations and subsidences of the social crust, akin to those which disturb the terrene crust. These processes we may term reconstructive or dynamic. Natural increase in numbers compels men to adopt a more intensive economy, which in turn brings many changes in its train. From prolonged saving there result in time great accumulations of capital which react power- fully upon the industrial organization, the constitution of classes, and the political system. Through draining, deforesting, the domesticating and diffusing of animals and plants, there are wrought lasting changes in the environment which react upon the social life of later generations. The gathering of men into cities quickens the movement of ideas and forms centers of incandescent intellect which flood with light the rest of society. By migration to new seats men rid themselves of the old con- fining shell, and become free to wind for themselves a new and better cocoon. The springing up of intercourse between peoples that have advanced on independent lines permits a cross- fecundation between their marriageable ideas, and brings about a rapid elevation of culture. Lastly, there is the man of origi- nality, the innovator, who, with his invention, or discovery, or example, switches men on to a new track. To recur to our former metaphor, no matter how tough the social crust, sooner or later there " comes by a great inquisitor who with auger and