Control of Heredity: Eugenics 315 



The method of evolution in the past has been the production 

 of enormous numbers of individuals and the elimination of the 

 least fit. The modern method of improving domestic races is to 

 select for reproduction the best types from large numbers of 

 individuals. Nature has provided an almost infinite wealth and 

 variety of potential personalities in human germ cells but only 

 an infinitesimal number ever come to development. If -this num- 

 ber is still further reduced by artificial means and without re- 

 gard to fitness the race will be made the poorer not merely 

 in quantity but also in quality. The optimism of those who 

 believe that supermen may be produced by artificially limiting the 

 number of children is a foolish and fatal optimism. 



Finally for those who are denied the privilege of parenthood 

 and upon whom sterility is forced by whatever circumstances there 

 is a lesson of value to be drawn from the social insects. The ster- 

 ile members of a colony of ants or bees are forever denied the pos- 

 sibility of having offspring of their own, but they become foster 

 mothers to the offspring of the queen. They tenderly nurse, care 

 for and rear the young of the colony. There are many children 

 in the world who need foster mothers and fathers; there are 

 many men and women in the world, both married and unmarried, 

 who need adopted children. "Go to the ant, thou sluggard ; con- 

 sider her ways and be wise." 



