60 THE MENDEL JOURNAL 



The stability of the sex- cell is a fact that I would 

 like you to grasp, because it is one of very great 

 importance in considering social problems. What 

 we have always to bear in mind is not so much a 

 question of what the individual himself may be, but 

 what is the nature of the characters which his sex- 

 cells are carrying and transmitting to successive 

 generations. And there is another fact of equal 

 importance which we should endeavour to fully 

 understand now, and this is that the body or visible 

 characters of an individual are not necessarily a reliable 

 indication of the characters which his sex-cells may be 

 carrying. Three grey-coated animals, externally 

 similar, may be carrying in their gametes (sex-cells) 

 very different qualities, so far as colour is concerned. 

 One may carry nothing but greyness, another greyness 

 and albinism, and the third may carry greyness, 

 blackness, and albinism. The offspring of these 

 three apparently identical individuals would be 

 very different. If these processes are at work in 

 human life — and I shall presently show you evidence 

 indicating that they are — clearly it is a matter of 

 the widest significance, and one which all social 

 reformers have overlooked. If a youth from the 

 lower classes manifests a few superficial accomplish- 

 ments — can, for instance, pass an elementary scholar- 

 ship examination by a process of cram — but is carrying 

 the civic qualities of his class, is it worth the while of 

 a State to spend the money of better citizens upon 

 that youth ? Is it worth while to spend money in 

 order that we may produce in an individual certain 



