IMPROVEMENT OF THE HUMAN BREED. 231 



believe that these dwindle away in subsequent generations. In short, 

 the towns sterilize rural vigor. 



As one of the reasons for choosing the selected class would be that 

 of hereditary fertility, it follows that the selected class would respond 

 more than other classes to the above influences. 



I do not attempt to appraise the strength of the combined six in- 

 fluences just described. If each added one sixth to the produce the 

 number of offspring would be doubled. This does not seem impossible 

 considering the large families of colonists, and of those in many rural 

 districts ; but it is a high estimate. Perhaps the fairest approximation 

 may be that these influences would cause the X women to bring into the 

 world an average of one adult son and one adult daughter in addition 

 to what they would otherwise have produced. The table of descent 

 applies to one son or to one daughter per couple ; it may now be read as 

 specifying the net gain and showing its distribution. Should this esti- 

 mate be thought too high, the results may be diminished accordingly. 



It is no absurd idea that outside influences should hasten the age of 

 marrying and make it customary for the best to marry the best. A 

 superficial objection is sure to be urged that the fancies of young 

 people are so incalculable and so irresistible that they cannot be guided. 

 No doubt they are so in some exceptional cases. I lately heard from a 

 lady who belonged to a county family of position that a great aunt of 

 hers had scandalized her own domestic circle two generations ago by 

 falling in love with the undertaker at her father's funeral and insisting 

 en marrying him. Strange vagaries occur, but considerations of social 

 position and of fortune, with frequent opportunities of intercourse, tell 

 much more in the long run than sudden fancies that want roots. In a 

 community deeply impressed with the desire of encouraging marriages 

 between persons of equally high ability, the social pressure directed to 

 produce the desired end would be so great as to ensure a notable amount 

 of success. 



Profit and Loss. 



The problem to be solved now assumes a clear shape. A child of the 

 X class (whatever X signifies) would have been worth so and so at its 

 birth, and one of each of the other grades respectively would have been 

 worth so and so; 100 X parentages can be made to produce a net gain 

 of 100 adult sons and 100 adult daughters who will be distributed 

 among the classes according to the standard table of descent. The total 

 value of the prospective produce of the 100 parentages can then be 

 estimated by an actuary, and consequently the sum that it is legitimate 

 to spend in favoring an X parentage. The clear and distinct state- 

 ment of a problem is often more than half way towards its solution^ 

 There seems no reason why this one should not be solved between limit- 

 ing values that are not too wide apart to be useful. 



