146 



HEREDITY. 



The Reappear- 

 ance of Genius. 



Effects of Dual 

 Parentage. 



an appetite for strong drink, that has remained 

 dormant for several generations may by some ex- 

 citing cause be called into activity and reappear in 

 the family. Morbid conditions of the brain are 

 frequently transmitted for several generations 

 without any outward manifestations of insanity; 

 but should there come an over-strain on the nerv- 

 ous system or any other condition calculated to 

 excite the abnormality, the morbid conditions be- 

 come manifest. 



In like manner desirable qualities, aptitude for 

 business, invention, science, art; music, religious 

 fervor, etc., that from disuse, or some other cause 

 have dropped out of a family for several genera- 

 tions, may be awakened by their proper stimuli 

 and become active factors in the mentality and 

 character of the individual. Thus the slumbering, 

 dormant powers, both good and evil, within us, 

 are ever becoming potential, modifying our lives. 



Heredity is another cause of atavism. Through 

 the law of dual parentage both physical and men- 

 tal qualities are caused to disappear and reappear. 

 As previously shown, each child is the product of 

 the union of its parents ; each element of its mind, 

 feeling, faculty or sentiment is a product of the 

 masculine and feminine principles. Now, if a 

 certain element be possessed by the father but not 

 by the mother the masculine principle of this ele- 

 ment will be transmitted to the child; but in the 

 absence of the feminine principle to combine with 

 it the trait will not be manifest in the mentality of 

 the offspring. Thus any quality or family trait 

 may become latent for one, two or more genera- 

 tions. 



