s so-called rights for the sake of the race, and since the only
excuse for the existence of the individual is the race, he must so far
relinquish his authority.

It is a part of the urban trend that the will of the man, of the head
of the family, should be superseded by that of the community, city,
state, nation.

Even though all the agencies for the education of both young people
and adults that have been discussed in the preceding chapters were set
in motion at once, there would still remain many thousands in township
and city untouched by these forces, or so touched as to arouse
rebellion against such novel notions.

Only the child can be educated to acquire habits of right living so
perfectly that the suitable action takes place unconsciously. Twenty
years hence these trained children will be the chief citizens of the
republic, the leaders of public opinion. Today, however, less gentle
means, less gradual processes, must be used in order that these
children may have a chance to grow up.

In the social republic, the child as a future citizen is an asset of
the state, not the property of its parents. Hence its welfare is a
direct concern of the state. Preventive medicine is in this sense
truly State Medicine, and means protection of the people from their
own ignorance.

In the laws made with this end in view lies one of the greatest
educative agencies known. We have referred in the last chapter to the
need of drawing attention to defects and dangers in order that people
may know what the results of their careless ways may be. No surer way
has been found to fix attention than to attempt to enforce a law or
collect a fine for disobedience of it. A marked illustration of this
truth is given in the case of the ordinance against spitting in street
cars. In many cities a notice was posted in each car--usually with
little effect. In some a fine of five dollars was added, with little
more result. Boston was one of the first cities to pass an ordinance,
and it accompanied the law with a fine of one hundred dollars. This
compelled attention--a sum which represented to the workman more than
his yearly savings, more than any single expenditure. To the business
man, even, it was a sum not to be lightly dropped on a filthy car
floor. This mere statement of the value of cleanness made an almost
instantaneous change in the habits of thousands. Within two days the
car floors became practically free without a single fine being
c