Whence and Whither 223 



not merely because traditions change or because phonographs 

 are invented, but also because — to an unknown degree — 

 the proportions of various constitutional types are constantly 

 changing in any population. Both such historical informa- 

 tion as we have and the statistical study of accessible popula- 

 tions tell us that change is a constant aspect of human nature. 

 It is impossible of course to predict the direction in 

 which these changes are to continue. Three conceivable 

 possibilities remain for the future: 



( 1 ) The races and types of the present may remain al- 

 ways the same and their proportions remain the same; that 

 is, with all its variability, the human race may continue the 

 same as it is today through the ages. This is conceivable; but 

 from what we know of the nature of living things, and from 

 what we know of what has happened in the past, extremely 

 improbable. 



(2) It is conceivable that the variations may continue 

 to increase while the modal or typical values remain the same. 

 This would leave the ** average " or standard qualities un- 

 changed. This too is extremely improbable in view of what 

 we know about the fluctuations or variations in living things. 



(3) It is conceivable that whether new variations ap- 

 pear or not the proportions of the different types will 

 undergo more or less consistent changes in one or another 

 direction. This would be a modification of human nature 

 in some determinate direction — in other words, evolution. 

 From what we have seen happening to other living things, all 

 the facts point to this kind of .change in human nature, as 

 having gone on in the past, as going on now and as continu- 

 ing into the future. 



Whence and thither 



Many people seem to be more interested in the past and 

 the future than they are in the present. Some unkind in- 

 dividuals say that this is because we are trying to get away 

 from ourselves, from our responsibilities and difficulties. 



