CHAPTER V 



THE INHERITANCE OF ABILITY 



ABILITY is among the most valuable possessions of a 

 race. Efficiency in government, profession, business, 

 or trade depends largely on the innate ability of the 

 different classes of the community. Success in the 

 struggle of nation with nation in war or in economic 

 competition attends the most able and best-organized 

 people. 



But other qualities may be of equal or greater 

 importance than ability. Moral character, good health, 

 physical strength and grace, beauty, and the supreme 

 charm which often accompanies long lineage and gentle 

 nurture, all are to be desired, and should be cherished 

 and encouraged no less than ability. 



But, at present, records of ability are more accessible 

 than those scattered allusions which alone would enable 

 us to trace the inheritance of other good and noble 

 qualities. Moreover, from the point of view of 

 heredity, we might expect them to follow somewhat 

 similar laws of descent. 



We may, then, take ability as an example of those 

 qualities we desire to encourage, always remembering 

 that it is but an example, and that health and beauty of 



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