152 THE MENDEL JOURNAL 



but laying the foundations of its discredit and its 

 destruction. It imagines — if we may judge its beliefs 

 by its deeds — that it can make worthy men out of 

 the children of unworthy races. It will achieve 

 for itself what modern social sentiment is fast 

 accomplishing for the nation as a whole: the 

 ultimate disruption of Society composed of civically 

 defective materials. 



But let us further illustrate the untenability of 

 Dr. Cobbett's contention. He implies that in some 

 way the environment fer se has the power to mould 

 men and their deeds.* I have attempted to show 

 that any apparent influence exerted by the environ- 

 ment is in reality due to an inborn capacity in the 

 individual to respond to it. Some have a capacity 

 to respond to one sort of environmental stimulus 

 and some to another. Some cannot respond at all. 

 Let us advance that line of argument deeper into 

 social life. Churches and public-houses are old 

 institutions. Music-halls, cinematograph shows, and 

 County Council Scholarships are the growth of more 

 modern times. At all times of the year London and 

 other cities afford certain inducements and attractions 

 to people of all ages. Among these we may mention 

 two contrasted forms. They are as different as the 

 Church and the public-house, but in a rather different 

 manner. The contrast, however, is the same in this 

 respect, that whereas everyone who enters a music- 

 hall has to pay for admission, anyone who desires 

 to enter an evening class for " self -improvement " in 



* By men is implied individuals, not races. 



