MENTAL APTITUDES. 165 



As he approaches forty he interests himself more and more in 

 practical affairs. He has got over working for fame and is now 

 working for the dollars. He looks less at the beautiful and more at 

 the useful and profitable. He begins to take more interest in local, 

 state, or national politics. He uses his influence toward municipal 

 improvements, better police protection, and regulation of the 

 saloons and the unruly members of society. During his forties he 

 has largely forgotten the conceit, turbulence and aggressiveness of 

 his own youth and condemns that in his son. 



When in his fifties, he has passed the heat and passions of youth 

 and looks more at the moral and philosophical side of questions. 

 He takes an interest in scientific questions provided they rise above 

 curiosity and purely academical interest. Wise statesmanship, the 

 good of the world, the good of mankind and philanthropy engross 

 his attention. 



This life history does not represent that of any particular indi- 

 vidual, and is probably not exactly true in any case. In one person 

 conceit and aggressiveness may continue throughout the larger part 

 of his life, and wise statesmanship and philanthropy may never 

 appear. In another person the artistic sense may appear early and 

 continue late. In still another, the practical nature and acquisitive 

 propensities may be the dominating influence throughout life. 

 Still our assumed individual may be considered as typical, and as 

 representing, more or less closely, the general drift of character of 

 all individuals. He stands for man in the aggregate, and in one 

 generation is the father of the next generation. 



EFFECT OF THESE CHANGES ON OFFSPRING. 



Having more or less perfectly, or imperfectly, established our 

 typical father, and having traced the changes of his character dur- 



