Best of all, for our present consideration, is the great mass of evidence sustaining the theory that about ninety-nine per cent of our new-born infants are potentially good in an economic and moral sense. That is to say, this great majority of the young humanity have latent within their natures at the beginning of life the possibilities of development into sound, self-reliant manhood and womanhood. So, the writer of these lines would gladly lead rural parents to the point of being very courageous and optimistic about their infant children. He would have them see in the latter all the possibilities of good and efficiency that they may care to attempt to bring out by thoughtful and conscientious training. For that matter, it can be shown that many of the leaders of men are constantly springing up out of the ranks of the common masses and from those of humble parentage. Some of these great leaders, it is true, are what may be called accidental geniuses in respect to their native strength and their persistent life purposes. But many others, and perhaps the majority of them, are merely men and women who have been reasonably sound at birth and who have been trained from childhood to maturity in a manner that best served to build up strong, efficient character. REFERENCES The references given at the close of each chapter are meant to direct the reader to specific treatment of the topics named. It is thought that nearly every chapter or book referred to will be found helpful and instructive to such persons as may naturally become interested in this volume. In some instances a line of comment is given to make clearer the contents of the reference. Must Children have Children's Diseases? Newton. _Ladies' Home Journal_, April, 1910. _Dietetic and Hygienic Gazette._ Gazette Publishing Company, New York. $1 per year, monthly. The Miracle of Life. J. H. Kellogg, M.D. Good Health Publishing Company, Battle Creek, Mich. Read especially pp. 363-388, "How to be Strong." Our Duty to Posterity. Editorial. _The Independent_, February. 1909. Relation of Science to Man. Professor A. W. Small. _American Journal of Sociology_, February, 1908. Character Building. Marian M. George. A. Flanagan Company. Treats the ethical problems of the home. Through Boyhood to Manhood. Ennis Richmond. Chapter 1, "Usefulness." Longmans. Making the Most of Our Children. Mary Wood-Allen, M.D. Chapter IX, "Keeping the Boy on the Farm." McClurg. Youth. G. Stanley Hall. Chapter XII, "Moral and Religious Training." Appleton. The Contents of a Boy. E. L. Moore. Chapter VI, "Social Interests." Jennings & Graham, Cincinnati. Mind in the Making. E. J. Swift. Chapter II, "The Criminal Natures of Boys." Scribners. The Young Malefactor. Dr. Thomas Travis. Chapter II, "The Child born Centuries Too Late." Crowell.