THE PATH OF EVOLUTION 



lous men enrich themselves to the detriment of others. 

 The more lowly scoundrel carries his selfishness still 

 further. For the present pleasure or the moment's 

 gain he throws away the morrow's future. He will 

 not or cannot work, but will lie, cheat, steal, or even 

 murder, for a pittance that a week's honest work would 

 have supplied. His selfishness is even greater to him- 

 self than to all others, unless it be to some unhappy 

 woman that he may have in his power, whom he ill- 

 treats and may finally murder. Drink, which reveals 

 his worst but his true character, really maddens him. 



At times reappear the traits of a lower life even 

 than a human life that of a savage beast; like the 

 wolf, he delights in blood ; even in childhood he slays 

 his playmates to enjoy their sufferings and his own 

 excitement. Yet this is not insanity ; it is only the 

 extreme type of a reversion to the brutal instincts, 

 that are like the malformed, brute-like features 

 sometimes born ; he is a moral monstrosity, as the 

 other is a physical one. Happily for the race of man 

 this form of atavism is of rare occurrence. 



The character formed by heredity can usually be 

 made better or be made worse by its possessor, as 

 he may choose. Ambition to excel may guide him 

 one way, or the love of Pleasure lead the other. 

 The ways of life are not intended to be always 

 smooth and pleasatft. The rougher the path, the 

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