246 POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



reach. Now the congenital ' anomalies ' are precisely the kind of varia- 

 tion that most nearly corresponds to the free swing of the pendulum. 

 It is true that there is no absolute distinction between the initial 

 energy and the subsequent modifying influences, but it is equally 

 true that if we wish to measure and compare the aboriginal energies 

 of the male and female organisms, we must so far as possible disregard 

 those characters which are very considerably influenced by late modi- 

 fying forces. 



Professor Pearson has, however, chosen, as a final and crucial test 

 of the variational tendency in men and women, the single point of 

 difference in size, chiefly in adults. That is to say, he has selected 

 as a final and unimpeachable test one of the most fragile of distinc- 

 tions, a distinction that has been exposed to a lifetime of modifying 

 influences that are incalculable. 



Even if we admit that size at birth constitutes a sound test and 

 this can not be admitted without qualification, as we shall soon see 

 it is evident that the comparative variation of the sexes in this respect 

 is liable to be affected by environmental circumstances as age increases. 

 The influences of life differently affecting and exercising the two 

 sexes, the influence of death probably exerting an unequal selective 

 influence both alike must be allowed for if this kind of evidence 

 is to be regarded as a test of the first rank of importance. Other- 

 wise we are not dealing with the incidence of variations at all, but 

 with the elimination of variations an altogether different matter. 

 Professor Pearson himself gradually awakes to a realization of this 

 fact as he proceeds with his task, and remarks at last that he strongly 

 suspects that the slightly greater variability of woman which his 

 results show is mainly due to a relatively less severe struggle for 

 existence ! Probably he is right, but if so his whole argument falls 

 to the ground. The question of the organic variational tendencies 

 of men and women remains untouched; we have been introduced 

 instead to a problem in selection. So true is it that, as Bacon said, 

 the half of knowledge lies in asking the right question. 



We are bound to suppose that when Professor Pearson set out 

 lie intended to use the term 'variation' in the same sense as his pre- 

 decessors had used it for otherwise his results could not validly be 

 opposed to theirs but it would appear that as he went on, by an 

 unconscious process of auto-suggestion, he insensibly glided into a 

 familiar field.* 



It may seem unnecessary to pursue Professor Pearson any further. 

 It is sufficiently clear that the inquiry he has carried out, however 



* It is perhaps significant that while I had dealt with the ' organic varia- 

 tional tendency ' Mr. , Pearson prefers the vaguer term ' variability,' which en- 

 ables him to bring in such matters as strength of pull and squeezes of hand, 

 whieh are merely due to functional exercise. 



