MATERNAL IMPRESSIONS. 229 



In considering the potency of maternal impres- 

 sions, it is well to bear in mind that there are no 

 short cuts in nature. Insignificant causes never No Short Cuts 



in Nature* 



produce great results. The popular notion held 

 by many and even advocated by some writers, that 

 just a little training at a certain time during the 

 maternal period will produce a genius, is without 

 foundation in fact. 



Special genius resulting from sudden psycho- 

 logical impressions like birth marks and mon- Transient 

 strosities is an abnormality and not a product of 

 natural growth and development. Moreover, 

 gifts and peculiarities so acquired are seldom per- 

 manent, but are usually outgrown in early life. 



The fixed factors of heredity and the established 

 types of character are not readily overcome. This 

 is a wise provision of nature. If it were possi- 

 ble, as some would have us believe, to completely 

 change the disposition of a child by a little special 

 training at a certain time, the race would have 

 no stability, no unanimity of character. 



The prospective mother who would do well by 

 her child, should be patient, earnest, constant and Persistent Train- 

 persistent in her training. She should not expect "^ equu 

 that a unit of training on her part is going to pro- 

 duce ten of genius in her child ; but as oft re- 

 peated postnatal impressions do mold and form 

 the character of the child, so all earnest, heart- 

 felt emotions, thoughts and sentiments oft re- 

 peated to her forming babe will become a part of 

 its future life and character. 



The animal propensities from which spring the 

 love of life, appetite, energy, secretiveness, the 

 instinct of self preservation, and the tendency to 



