HEREDITY. 



Ishmael. 



Lord is long suffering and of great mercy, for- 

 giving iniquity and transgression and by no means 

 clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the 

 fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth 

 generation." The old proverb that says, "The 

 fathers have eaten sour grapes and the children's 

 teeth are set on edge," had a wide application 

 in Hebrew lore. The story of Ishmael, the child 

 of the bond-woman, who turned out to be a bad 

 man, the founder of the Ishmaelites, "whose hand 

 was against every man," is well known to all 

 students of the Scriptures. History tells us that 

 the notorious wandering Bedouins of the plain, 

 are the lineal descendants of Ishmael. It is a fact 

 worthy of note that "Ishmael" is the name of 

 the largest criminal family in America. 



According to secular history Aristotle, who was 

 born 384 B. C, was the first to discover and clas- 

 sify the laws of heredity. By experimenting with 

 plants and animals, he demonstrated certain laws 

 applicable to the human family. From his time 

 the subject seems to have commanded the atten- 

 tion of philosophers and reformers, until it finally 

 gained expression in the laws and customs of the 

 people. 



The Roman mothers were, by a law of the na- 

 tion, surrounded by examples of strength, heroism 

 Heredity Applied an ^ purity so that these qualities might be trans- 

 in Rome. mitted and become the birthright of children. To 



be a Roman mother was an honor, special hom- 

 age was paid her, even on the street and at the 

 arena. This sense of freedom and superiority 

 she gave to her child. The young Roman thus 

 inherited that love of liberty and power which 



Aristotle's 

 Studies* 



