n6 THE TREND OF THE RACE 



never been produced from parents of subnormal mentality. A 

 great man is more apt to arise if both parents are of very superior 

 ability than if only one parent is not above mediocrity. Where 

 the great man appears to stand far above the level of his imme- 

 diate ancestors it is due in large part, I believe, to the fact that 

 each parent supplied peculiar qualities lacking in the other, 

 assisted also by qualities from more remote ancestors which may 

 have conspired to furnish the necessary complement of hereditary 

 factors. In addition there may be an element of somatic varia- 

 bility of a favorable kind. With the same inheritance two stalks 

 of corn may attain quite different height due to environmental 

 factors that influence growth. Forces that affect the pre-natal 

 or early post-natal life of the human being may influence his 

 development for good or ill to a considerable degree. After all it 

 may be a relatively small thing that gives the finishing touch to 

 the making of a great man. Heredity affords the necessary 

 foundation; but other things may aid or check subsequent devel- 

 opment. One thing is certain and that is you cannot make great- 

 ness out of mediocrity or good ability out of inborn dullness by 

 all the aids which environment and education or anything else 

 can possibly offer. 



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Boas, F. The Mind of Primitive Man. Macmillan Co., N. Y., 1913. 

 Constable, F. C. Poverty and Hereditary Genius: A Criticism of Mr. Francis 



Gallon's Theory of Hereditary Genius. Fifield, London, 1905. 

 De Candolle, A. Histoire des Sciences et des Savants depuis deux SiScles. Geneva, 



1873- 



Ellis, H. H. A Study of British Genius, London, 1904. 

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