56 THE MISUSE OF METAPHORS IN 



But the main interest of the practical reformer is in the 

 other aspect of this truth. As life is a process of inter- 

 nalising the world, and the environment is the potential 

 content of character, the power of^ society over unformed 

 childhood is indefinitely great, and it must be turned more 

 deliberately and systematically in this direction of develop- 

 ing the character, more especially in the cases where the 

 home-influences are evil. We are entitled to hope more 

 from such action, and bound to attempt more than we do. 

 And we should probably do so, were we not as much misled 

 by notions of the fixity of character in childhood, which are 

 as false as those of its fluidity in later life. 



Judging from my own observation, I should say that 

 biological metaphors, and especially the argument from 

 heredity, have something to answer for in this context. 

 They conceal the fact that rational life implies stronger 

 powers of reaction, and is always nearer being a new 

 beginning or a potential reincarnation of the world as a 

 whole, than animal life is. The notion that the children 

 of dissolute parents carry with them a definite predisposi- 

 tion towards vice has had much to do with paralysing social 

 effort on their behalf. The adoption of children left by 

 their parents in circumstances where a strong and virtuous 

 manhood cannot grow without a miracle, would be more 

 general were it not for this fear. But is this fear justified ? 

 Biological science has investigated with great thoroughness 

 the problem of the transmission to offspring of the acquired 

 characters of parents.; and its verdict is "Not proven." 

 Nevertheless in our social practice the truth of this doubtful 

 hypothesis is taken for granted. It is assumed that the 

 children of depraved parents are not only physically inferior 

 to others and afflicted with an unstable nervous disposition 



