Heredity and Conduct 103 



Hence all social conduct should be directed, 

 on this point to insuring that the minority, 

 who in any case provide the next generation, 

 .is formed from the best stock in the com- 

 munity. The fertility of the unhealthy, of 

 the mentally defective, of the dishonest, 

 should be checked by custom and legislation 

 in every way ; while that of the healthy, sane, 

 and conscientious should, on the other hand, 

 be in every way encouraged. 



If we consider first individual conduct, we 

 see need for a revision of current social feel- 

 ing with regard to ancestral history. Both 

 man and woman ought to know the tale of 

 their past ; the faults, physical and mental, of 

 ancestors and other relations ought not to be 

 hidden away ; and the need of a new and 

 rational pride in ancestry should be inculcated. 



The celibacy of the individual who comes 

 of faulty stock should be recognised in social 

 conduct, and social condemnation should 

 follow marriage into a tainted stock or the 

 marriage of any members of such stock. 

 But such restraint of bad stock must also 

 be accompanied among the educated by a 

 change of feeling as to the conduct of the 

 healthy, able, and generally fit stock. 



We require, indeed, what it may be diffi- 

 cult to create a strong social feeling against 

 that celibacy which flows from the desire for 

 the increased powers of enjoyment resulting 

 when no hostages have been given to fortune. 



