OUR SURROUNDINGS 13 



common sense, but it is not the true explanation. Two 

 other explanations have to be considered. In the first 

 place, a son is apt to imitate his father, and the mere fact 

 that a father drinks is likely to increase the chances of his 

 son doing so also. In the second place, the first drunkard 

 in any family of whom we have any record may have 

 inherited from his ancestors some hereditary weakness 

 which made him especially ready to give way to this amongst 

 other forms of temptation. He may have passed on this 

 weakness to his descendants; a weakness which made 

 them also in their turn especially liable to become drunkards. 

 These are the real reasons why drunkenness sometimes runs 

 in families. 



We have said that care in regard to the surroundings 

 of man will not improve the breed of his race. But let 

 there be no mistake. This does not mean that our sur- 

 roundings are of little importance to us. Training, education, 

 health, housing, culture, recreation, etc., are obviously of 

 the greatest importance; because it is only by paying 

 attention to them that those now on earth can be made 

 to lead happier and nobler lives. Moreover, the benefits 

 resulting from education will to no small extent be passed 

 on by tradition to future generations. All that is here to 

 be noted about these admirable methods of improving the 

 lot of mankind is that the label " eugenics " is not attached 

 to them. They can, however, be pursued just as well 

 without that label. 



It may be said that to improve the surroundings of the 

 people is the quickest way of benefiting them, and that 

 this, therefore, should be our first aim. There is no doubt 

 some truth in this. But experience should teach us how 

 difi&cult it is to improve surroundings at all quickly. In 

 any case, the possibility of doing good in one direction is 

 generally the worst of all arguments against trying to do 

 good in another direction. Steps can be taken which wiU 

 result in an improvement in the breed in future generations 

 at the same time that improvements in surroundings of 

 those now on earth are being promoted. 



