CHAP. XX 



Heredity 339 



goodness. If it dist,i>«rages the extravagant hope of a gifted 

 parent that his children will inherit all his powers, it no less 

 discountenances extravagant fears that they will inherit all 

 his weakness and disease." 



The study of individual inheritance, as in Gallon's 

 Hereditary Genius^ may tend to develop an aristocratic and 

 justifiable pride of race when a gifted lineage is verifiable 

 for generations. It may lead to despair if the records of 

 family diseases be subjected to investigation. 



But the study of social inheritance is at once more demo- 

 cratic and less pessimistic. The nation is a vast fraternity, 

 with an average towards which the noble tend, but to which 

 the offspring of the under-average as surely approximate. 

 Measures which affect large numbers are thus more hopeful 

 than those which artificially select a few. 



Even when we are doubtful as to the degree in which 

 acquired characters are transmissible, we cannot depreciate 

 the effect on individuals of their work and surroundings. 

 In fact there should be the more earnestness in our desire to 

 conserve healthful function and stimulating environment of 

 every kind, for these are not less important if their influences 

 must needs be repeated on each fresh generation. " There 

 was a child went forth every day ; and the first object he 

 looked upon, that object he became ; and that object 

 became part of him for the day, or a certain part of the 

 day, or for many years, or for stretching cycles of years." ^ 



Nor can we forget how much a plastic physical and 

 mental education may do to counteract disadvantageous 

 inherited qualities, or to strengthen characters which are 

 useful. 



Every one will allow at least that much requires to be 

 done in educating public opinion, not only to recognise all 

 the facts known in regard to heredity, but also to admit the 

 value and necessity of the art which Mr. Galton calls 

 " eugenics," or in frank English " good-breeding." 



^ Walt Whitman's "Assimilations." 



