National Life and Character 311 



undoubtedly correct. Progressive societies, and the 

 most progressive portions of society, fail to increase 

 as fast as the others, and often positively decrease. 

 The great, commanders, great statesmen, great poets, 

 great men of science of any period taken together 

 do not^verage as many children who reach years 

 of maturity as a similar number of mechanics, work- 

 men, and farmers, taken at random. Nevertheless, 

 society progresses, the improvement being due main- 

 ly to the transmission of acquired characters, a 

 process which in every civilized State operates so 

 strongly as to counterbalance the operation of that 

 baleful law of natural, selection which tells against 

 the survival of some of the most desirable classes. 

 Mr. Balfour, by the way, whose forecast for the 

 race is in some respects not unlike Mr. Pearson's, 

 seems inclined to adopt the view that acquired char- 

 acteristics can not be inherited; a position which, 

 even though supported by a few eminent names, is 

 hardly worthy serious refutation. 



The point I wish to dwell upon here,, however, 

 is that it is precisely in those castes which have 

 reached the stationary state, or which are positively 

 diminishing in numbers, that the highest culture and 

 best training, the keenest enjoyment of life, and 

 the greatest power of doing good to the community 

 are to be found at present. Unquestionably no com- 

 munity that is actually diminishing in numbers is 

 in a healthy condition: and as the world is now, 

 with huge waste places still to fill up, and with 

 much of the competition between the races reducing 



