256 Heredity and Environment 



many of us are hereditarily primitive men. The frequent result 

 is disharmony, poor adjustment, a struggle between primitive in- 

 stincts and high ideals, with a resulting sense of discouragement 

 and defeat which often ends in abnormal states of mind. The 

 prevalence of crime, alcoholism, depravity and insanity is an 

 ever-increasing protest and menace of weak men against high 

 civilization. We are approaching the time when one or the other 

 must give way, either the responsibilities of life must be reduced 

 and the march of civilization stayed, or a better race of men, with 

 greater hereditary abilities, must be bred. 



Wars and revolutions shake off the burdens of social inheritance 

 but they destroy the good along with the bad and afford only lo- 

 cal and temporary relief. Mankind cannot return permanently to 

 barbarism or savagery ; civilization must be and will be preserved ; 

 but if society is really to advance from age to" age the natures of 

 men must improve as well as their environment. 



