270 PROBLEMS OF HUMAN EVOLUTION 



control enough to resist the temptation to drink, or who have 

 little inclination in that direction. 



This selection for moral stamina has, I believe, already borne 

 effect, and the modern English gentleman would be unable to 

 hold his own among the old three or four bottle men even if he 

 were allowed a reasonable time for training. Men who combine 

 poor physique with great strength of character are at the present 

 day not uncommon : one cannot help respecting and admiring 

 them. Such men have been made possible by the growing 

 tendency to self-restraint ; knowing exactly where their weakness 

 lies, by care in diet and by making the most of all the strength 

 they have, they are able often under rough conditions to cut a 

 better figure than those who may be looked upon as products 

 of the older and slowly disappearing tendency of evolution. 

 Such men are able by the help of long-continued training and 

 by studying the laws of health to go through a trying campaign 

 without breaking down. It is probable that men of this stamp 

 will be still more common in the future. When there is moral, 

 not physical, resistance to alcohol there is, of course, an evolu- 

 tion of moral, not physical, strength. In the present day 

 evolution is proceeding on moral lines and is likely to con- 

 tinue to do so, unless the tendency is counteracted by influences 

 not as yet perceptible. But though the main drift of evolution 

 at the present day is, as I have said, towards a higher morality 

 and a lowered physique, yet it is possible that there may be 

 found means of mitigating the evils that seem destined to 

 accompany the gradual ennoblement of human character. 



We have by no means done with the subject of alcohol. Not 

 only does it eliminate those who tend to alcoholism, but many 

 besides who are in various ways ill adapted to civilised life and 

 drown the bitterness of failure in drink. This I shall discuss in 

 the chapter on moral evolution. 



