426 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY 



some wise men are advocates. It is probably less dangerous than a 

 huge standing army, but it is full of risks. The mind takes color like 

 the dyer's hand, and one fears that compulsory military training is one 

 of the roots of militarism. It would be tragic to fall into the grip of 

 one of the national diseases that we are combating in our enemies and 

 to become insidiously Prussianized. Moreover the people of this coun- 

 try have an inherent dislike of coercion and do better without it. If a 

 man does not demand our coat, we may perhaps give him our cloak; 

 if he does not seek to compel us to go a mile, we may go twain without 

 a grumble. Certain it is that in the time of revision it will be for the 

 eugenist to champion the free and plastic organism rather than the 

 highly efficient machine. 



In recent years we have seen in this country a number of endeavors 

 on a large scale towards the improvement of the conditions of human 

 life. We have our detailed criticisms and honest doubts, but, on the 

 whole, there is agreement that several things have been done, e. g., in 

 the way of Old-Age Pensions, which have greatly lightened the too 

 prevalent " life-harming heaviness," and have relieved the national con- 

 science at the same time. Other endeavors were in progress or in- 

 cipient, which were more directly eugenic, in connection for instance 

 with tuberculosis, and there was warrant for hoping that notable 

 progress might be made along lines of practicable eugenics. Now there 

 is the fear lest eugenic endeavors be put back for decades. Probably 

 every one can already recall several progressive activities that have en- 

 tered during the past six months into a state of encystation. For the 

 undeniable privilege of being part of civilized Europe, and for the 

 undeniable distinction of having been willing — on this occasion — to do 

 the right thing at all costs, we shall have a long price to pay, and we 

 shall be paying it long after the personal and ethical thrill has passed. 

 Perhaps the deadliest part of the paying-up will be the shelving of 

 eugenic endeavors and our connivance thereat. 



The eugenic ideal is as old as mankind and older; it is the primeval 

 pride in creation. But deliberate eugenics with the race as a whole in 

 view is, with few exceptions, such as Plato's Eepublic and the Jewish 

 people, relatively modern; indeed. Sir Francis Galton was the first to 

 give it scientific expression. The newness of the idea of deliberate 

 national eugenics, its remoteness from being instinctive, the rarity of 

 the biological outlook, even among statesmen, make one apprehensive 

 of the days of retrenchment. But this is not the time to bruit disap- 

 pointment, and perhaps after all our fears may be liars. 



Three hopeful considerations may be briefly referred to. (1) The 

 war is likely to demonstrate the value of constitutions which can endure 

 without stolidity, which have resiliency without "nerves." We may 

 look forward to a heightening of the standard of all-round fitness. 



