The Descent of Man 



mere wealth or rank. Yet he might by selection 

 do something not only for the bodily constitute m 

 and frame of his offspring, but for their intel- 

 lectual and moral qualities. Both sixes oughl 

 to refrain from marriage if they are in any marked 

 degree inferior in body or mind; but such l. 

 are Utopian and will never be even partially 

 realized until the laws of inheritance are thor- 

 oughly known. All do good service who aid 

 toward this end. When the principles of br 

 ing and inheritance are better understood, we 

 shall not hear ignorant members of our legislature 

 rejecting with scorn a plan for ascertaining 

 whether or not consanguineous marriages are 

 injurious to man. 



The advancement of the welfare of mankind 

 is a most intricate problem; all ought to refrain 

 from marriage who cannot avoid abject poverty 

 for their children; for poverty is not only a great 

 evil, but tends to its own increase by leading 

 to recklessness in marriage. On the other hand, 

 as Mr. Galton has remarked, if the prudent avoid 

 marriage, while the reckless marry, the inferior 

 members tend to supplant the better members 

 of society. Man, like every other animal, has 

 no doubt advanced to his present high condition 

 through a struggle for existence consequent on 

 his rapid multiplication; and if he is to advance 

 still higher, he must remain subject to a seven 

 struggle. Otherwise he would sink into indol- 

 ence, and the more gifted men would not be more 

 successful in the battle of life than the less 

 67 



