66 HEREDITY AND CHRISTIAN PROBLEMS 



state prisons return. The difference between the 

 two classes is not due, probably, in the slightest 

 degree to differences of moral heritage, but is due 

 entirely to the difference in nature between the 

 Reformatory, which seeks by good surroundings, 

 education, and moral influences to develop the 

 latent manhood in the convict, and the average 

 prison, which is merely a place of punishment. 

 The experience of such organizations as the Chil- 

 dren's Aid Society, which seeks to save children 

 by placing them in new and better conditions, 

 points to the same conclusion ; it all is favourable 

 to the theory that environment will modify hered- 

 ity, and when given a fair chance has power to 

 redeem it. It has been proved, for example, that 

 the evils of illegitimacy may be largely counter- 

 acted by education and healthful association. 

 Improvement in environment means the purifi- 

 cation of heritage. Bad lineage does not neces- 

 sarily doom a child, but it makes the chances 

 almost infinite that unless the conditions of his 

 life be changed, depravity will continue. It does 

 not determine the destiny by itself alone, but it 

 will do so if not counteracted. Usually improved 

 circumstances result in a corresponding elevation 

 of character and life. However vile a child's 

 ancestry may be, if he is placed where every- 



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