330 THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY
pointing out the objective fact that wherever two or more persons associate each exercises in some sort and degree an influence by which the others are drawn. In many cases the energy of this attractive force may not be apparent, or it may emerge only on rare occasions. These occasions reveal the relation that is qualitatively constant, although it may be concealed by more efficient factors in the situation. The affinities that hold the horde together ; the sexual impulse that stimulates the union of men and women in families ; the bond of proved prowess that unites the predatory band ; the profession of a common faith ; the betrayal of common impulse the touch of nature that makes all men kin consciousness of common need or common fear or common hope ; the sense of good-fellowship ; the honor among thieves ; the discipline of the regiment ; the finesse of the salon ; the eloquence of the rostrum ; the prestige of the court ; or, on the other hand, the discovery of uncommon traits ; the perception of superior strength or skill ; complementary ele- ments, lacking in one party and present in the other these may in turn be both sign and means of social attraction. Per- sons draw persons. There are affinities, sympathies, by which one person supplements another. Whatever the ultimate rea- sons for associations, individuals are the channels through which many of these reasons work. The gravitation of person to per- son throughout associations is as real as though it were the only movement involved in society.
III. Repulsion. It is difficult to speak of the more obvious incfdents of association without introducing premature hypothe- ses or theories of their relations to each other. We must pres- ently refer to facts of association in which this incident is involved, in which it may be resolved into more fundamental forms. Our present purpose, however, is to schedule, not to explain. The schedule is to present the facts as they appear before we make serious attempts to interpret them or to place them in their proper order. This setting forth of the data to be studied is, however, an important step in the scientific process. If it seems to ignore plain and obvious simplifications, it may prove to estop many explanations that are more simple than
