In the religious and philosophical stage the child takes on an importance of its own; it is humanely treated because it is now recognized as a human being, or it is protected because it is said to have, young and apparently unimportant as it seems to be, a soul of its own. From there on to the time when the child, as the father of the man, is a charge upon the State,—or on all men,—until it is able to take care of and protect itself, the murder of a child is theoretically as great a crime as the murder of an adult. In fact, the conditions of the past hold long after each recognized step of progress, the most primitive habits obtruding in the very midst of the most advanced knowledge and the most complete enlightenment.
It is for this that the story of the past is valuable. That we may know and understand and value rightly what is past, past for all time so far as intelligent and self-governing humanity is able to will—that is one of the surest steps to knowledge and truth.
APPENDIX A
NAPOLEONIC DECREE OF 1811.
Imperial Decree Concerning Foundlings, Abandoned Children, and Poor Orphans of January 19, 1811.
1ST TITLE.
Article I. The children whose education is entrusted to public charity are:
1st. Foundlings.
2d. Abandoned children.
3d. Poor orphans.