154 PRENATAL CULTURE. 



of the trained shepherd learn much more read- 

 ily than do those from the untrained animal. No 

 sportsman would think of paying a high price 

 for a puppy, the mother of which was stupid and 

 untrained. The same law applies, only with 

 greater effect, to the human family. 



Prenatal influences often largely control the 

 hereditary tendencies. I have observed several 

 cases in which the effects were almost phenom- 

 enal. At Strang, Nebraska, I was surprised, 

 upon entering the C. B. & Q. Ry. station, to 

 see a twelve-year-old girl selling tickets, checking 

 A. Born Station Baggage, receiving and sending telegraphic mes- 

 Agent. sages, dispatching trains, directing passengers 



and otherwise superintending the station. I 

 asked for the station agent and was frankly in- 

 formed by the child that she was the regularly 

 employed agent. On further investigation I 

 found that she had been in the employ of the 

 company for some time, had complete charge of 

 the passenger department at the place, received 

 all moneys, kept the books, made all remittances, 

 attended to all telegraphic communications and 

 other business connected with the road. Accord- 

 ing to the road auditor she was one of the most 

 efficient agents on the system. In a long article 

 published in the auditor's report (copies of which 

 may be secured) the auditor says : "Miss Walk- 

 er has the best kept set of books on the division. 

 If she keeps on she may some day be president 

 of the road." I spent several hours in conver- 

 sation with the child at different times and was 

 amazed at the rapidity and self -composure with 

 which she discharged her many duties. I ob- 



