CONCLUSION 209 



is the most valuable fifth of the whole, the younger 

 children of large families in the best stocks of the 

 nation. Galton calculates the proportion of eminent 

 men as about one in four thousand of the population 

 in general. We shall not be over-estimating if we 

 suppose that at least one in two thousand of this 

 selected fifth v/ould possess eminent ability. Hence, 

 every year, among the two hundred thousand, the 

 country is losing one hundred babies, who, if they 

 had existed and lived to grow up, would have become 

 eminent. Who can calculate the injury to the nation 

 inflicted by the suppression of this lost legion ? 



On the other hand, there is little or no fall as yet in 

 the ranks of the casual labourers and of the feeble- 

 minded men and women still at large amongst us. 

 Thus the stocks which are least successful or definitely 

 unsound are increasing: fastest. 



At present this phenomenon has affected only one 

 generation, of whom the oldest are now in early man- 

 hood. But even so, its effects are beginning to be felt. 

 The supply of competent candidates for entry into 

 certain professions is already falling, while it becomes 

 more and more difficult to find men of sufficient 

 character, ability, and good manners to fill the higher 

 administrative posts as those posts increase in number. 



But the amelioration in the average life of mankind, 

 the increased wealth of the nation, the paraphernalia 

 of the Poor Law and the universality of elementary 

 education, have completely failed to abolish the pre- 

 valence of pauperism, which, in late years, with lunacy 

 and feeble-mindedness, even tends to increase. Thus, 

 in spite of all our efforts, the number of those who are 



p 



