RACES OF MEN. 195 



in this case, it is equally axiomatic that the number of eldest sons 

 exceeds the number of third sons. Yet Galton does not perceive 

 the inconsistency of advocating early reproduction and giving a 

 table, compiled by himself, showing that eminent men are drawn 

 in a much larger measure from late than from early reproduction. 



AGE AT MARRIAGE. 



The same plea for early reproduction as giving more oppor- 

 tunities for advantageous variation is made by Haycraft in his 

 "Darwinism and Race Progress." Along with this plea he gives 

 a table showing the average ages at time of marriage of different 

 classes of people. This table is made up from the Forty-ninth 

 Report of Births, Deaths and Marriages in England for 1884-5, 

 and is as follows : 



AVERAGE AGES AT MARRIAGES (ENGLAND, 1884-5). 



OCCUPATION. BACHELORS. SPINSTERS. 



Miners 24.06 22.46 



Artisans 25.35 23.70 



Shop Keepers 26.67 24.22 



Professional Classes 31 .22 26.40 



This table shows a direct jprojDortion between the intelligence of 

 the classes and the ages at which they marry, yet, knowing that 

 great men come principally from the educated classes, the man who 

 gives this table takes a gloomy view of the matter and urges the 

 professional and independent classes to compete with English 

 miners in age of marriage. 



Galton and Haycraft are not alone in advocating early repro- 

 duction as a means for improving the race. The same thing may 

 be found repeated again and again, either by direct advocacy or by 



