2o8 HEREDITY AND CHRISTIAN PROBLEMS 



better than they can afford. If the millionaire 

 sips his wine, the hod-carrier will insist on his 

 whiskey. It may be said that the fact that one 

 does what in itself is not harmful to him, is no 

 reason why he should be classed as a partner in 

 blame with those who do what is harmful for them. 

 If all were equally strong that might be true, but 

 there are many gradations in humanity, and the 

 higher attract tl:e lower as naturally as the 

 moon the tides. No man can keep his influence 

 to himself. Public opinion determines what 

 people try to do. If it honours only those 

 things which are safe and healthful, no one in 

 following it will be led to evil ; if it popularizes 

 what one-half the world can enjoy only at its 

 peril, then those who make the public sentiment 

 are responsible for the peril in which half the 

 world finds itself. 



One whom I was once trying to lift to a 

 higher and better life answered my appeal with 

 this single, sad sentence, in which seemed con- 

 densed the plaint of many sighs and the falling 

 of many tears, " Oh, I am so weak ! " which 

 meant, not only that, but also this unuttered but 

 still evident thought, "and there are so many 

 to take advantage of my weakness." If the tem- 

 perate allow places where allurements to evil are 



