IMPROVEMENT OF THE HUMAN BREED. 537 



There are other activities long since existing whicli might well be 

 extended. 1 will not dwell, as 1 am tempted to do. on the endowments 

 of scholarships and the like, which aim at tinding and educating the 

 fittest youths for the work of the nation; but I will refer to that whole- 

 some practice during all ages of wealthy persons interesting themselves 

 ill and befriending poor l)ut promising lads. The number of men who 

 have owed their start in a successful life to help of this kind must have 

 struck every reader of biographies. This relationship of befriender and 

 ])eFriended is hardly to be expressed in English In* a simple word that 

 does not connote more than is intended. The word " patron " is odious. 

 KecoUecting Dr. Johnson's abhorrence of the patrons of his day, I 

 turned to an early edition of his dictionary in hope of deriving some 

 amusement as well as instruction from his definition of the word, and I 

 Avas not disappointed. He defines " patron "as '"a wretch who supports 

 with insolence and is repaid with flattery." That is totalh' opposed 

 to what I would advocate, namely, a kindh^ and honorable relation 

 ])etween a wealthy man who has made his position in the world and a 

 youth who is avowedh' his equal in natural gifts, but who has yet to 

 make it. It is one in which each partv mav well take pride, and I 

 feel sure that if its value were more widely understood it would become 

 commoner than it is. 



Many degrees maj' be imagined that lie between mere bef riendment 

 and actual adoption, and which would be more or less effective in free- 

 ing capable 3"ouths from the hindrances of narrow circumstances, in 

 enabling girls to marry earh" and suitabl}-, and in securing favor to 

 their subsequent offspring. Something in this direction is commonl}^ 

 but half unconsciously done by man}" great landowners whose emplo}'- 

 meuts for man and wife, together with good cottages, are given to 

 exceptionalh' deserving couples. The advantage of being connected 

 with a great and liberally managed estate being widely appreciated, 

 there are usually more applicants than vacancies, so selection can be 

 exercised. The consequence is that the class of men found upon these 

 properties is markedly superior to those in similar positions elsewhere. 

 It might well become point of honor, and as much an avowed object, 

 for noble families to gather fine specimens of humanit}^ around them 

 as it is to procure and maintain fine breeds of cattle, etc., which are 

 costlv, but repa}' in satisfaction. 



There is yet another existing form of princeh' benevolence which 

 might be so extended as to exercise a large effect on race improvement. 

 I mean the provision to exceptionally promising young couples of 

 healthy and convenient houses at low rentals. A continuall}' renewed 

 settlement of this kind can be easily imagined, free from the taint of 

 patronage and analogous to colleges, with their self-elected fellowships 

 and rooms for residence that shall become an exceedingl}' desirable 

 residence for a specified time. It would be so in the same way that a 

 good club 1)}' its own social advantages attracts desirable candidates. 



