HEREDITY IN PHYSIOLOGY, IN MEDICINE, ETC. 357 



nor sleepy, may be regarded in general as presenting a 

 really human type, as the mask of a soul capable of doing 

 honor to his species. The story is told of an Englishman, 

 a friend of Shakespeare, who once sent a groom into an 

 inn to look for him. " How shall I know him ? " the ser- 

 vant said. " Nothing is easier," was the answer. " Every 

 face looks something like some animal's ; but, when you see 

 Shakespeare, you will say, ' There is the man. 9 " Yes, man 

 imagined in the fullness of his harmonious beauty ; that 

 is the ideal toward the realization of which the efforts of 

 our present imperfect humanity should strive, and it is full 

 time that we should neglect no means for bringing our- 

 selves, by the skillful management of heredity, that is, by 

 propagation in a sound and wise way, nearer to a human 

 race from which the last traces of animalism shall have 

 vanished, and among whom man shall be less rare. 



What constitutes the superiority of the English aristoc- 

 racy ? It is the constant interest they are animated by to 

 endow their descendants with the best bodily, mental, and 

 moral qualities. An Englishman does not marry from 

 fancy or passion ; he marries under the conditions fittest to 

 insure his children's happiness, for he knows that his own 

 and the honor of his name depend on this. The respect 

 with which young English women are surrounded, the 

 honorable freedom they enjoy, the little consequence that 

 is attached to their fortune, and the esteem in which their 

 personal merit is held, are all so many causes for the in- 

 crease among that people of happy marriages, and conse- 

 quently for the growing vigor of their population. This is 

 one of the grand secrets of improvement through heredity. 

 Men, instead of requiring wealth with their brides, must 

 ask for beauty, character, and virtue. So long as they have 

 no fear of intermarrying with women who are feeble, or want- 

 ing in solid qualities, the race will decline and grow worth- 

 less, and the like deplorable result follows from the mar- 



