THE PROBLEM OF THE WILL 



83 



individual's hereditary bias and what would be 

 expected from his environment. These lead us 

 into a new world, and to the study of a new set 

 of forces. By a distinct and evident act of choice, 

 when all known hereditary influence would keep 

 them where they are, men frequently repudiate 

 their old associations, and without the slightest 

 compulsion choose a new environment. I know 

 a coloured woman whose heritage is vicious, and 

 even criminal; furthermore, all the circumstances 

 in which she lived in childhood were such as 

 tended to the development of passion ; but not- 

 withstanding blood and environment, she has 

 turned from her old surroundings and her old 

 friends, and has made a new life for herself. 

 Almost single-handed, so far as can be seen, she 

 has created for herself new and finer conditions. 

 Some may call this an example of atavism. Yes, 

 perhaps, to some degree ; but atavism in a negress 

 can scarcely be very potent for spiritual develop- 

 ment : the ancestry carries a strong animalism. 



Another case, in many respects still more re- 

 markable, is that of a woman whose home was 

 utterly distasteful to her ; there was not the least 

 love between herself and her husband. For years 

 the condition seemed to be growing worse, and 

 the disruption of the home seemed not improb- 



