134 HEREDITY. 



tain the high record made by the father. Doubt- 

 less, the principal cause of this is found in the fact 

 that the mother, and her prenatal conditions, de- 

 termine largely the genius of the man; yet, no 

 doubt, the ceaseless toil of the great man, in many 

 instances, has so exhausted his nerve force in mind 

 and thought, as to greatly diminish his power to 

 pFoduceJhis genius. 



Where trie sex attribute is stronger in parents 

 than their other qualities, the children are almost 

 Children Super- invariabl y superior to the parents. Almost every 

 ior to the Parents community has illustrations of this fact. There are 

 many families where the father is simply an ener- 

 getic mechanic, or business man, with no marked 

 peculiarities or indications of superior mentality 

 just a positive, manly, masculine man the 

 mother a whole-souled, sociable woman with 

 strong feelings, emotions and sympathy, but no 

 special literary taste ; is in no sense talented, but 

 simply a good, genial, motherly, womanly woman ; 

 yet their children are exceptionally bright and 

 develop talents far superior to those possessed by 

 either parent. The history of the world is made 

 up largely of men and women who have sprung 

 from a like condition and combination. 



