CHAPTER II 



VARIATION AND HEREDITY 



THE individuals of every race of living things vary 

 among themselves. No one is exactly like any other. 

 Even sheep can be distinguished by their shepherd, 

 Members of Parliament by the Speaker. Some are 

 taller, some shorter than the average. Some are 

 brighter and some are duller ; some are morally better 

 and some are morally worse. A part of these variations 

 may be due to differences in fortune, upbringing and 

 surroundings how much it is impossible to say. A 

 naturally tall man may be stunted by slum life, or 

 add half an inch to his stature by physical exercise. A 

 dunce may have a modicum of knowledge beaten into 

 his head, and a man on the border of crime may be 

 reclaimed by love or fear. But these acquirements 

 or alterations in a man depend again on his innate 

 susceptibility to the stick or to an appeal to his better 

 feelings. These impressed variations are not inherited 

 directly by his offspring, although the tendency to 

 receive them may be handed down. We have taught 

 many generations to read without seeing the slightest 

 prospect of giving birth to a generation endowed with 

 an innate knowledge of the alphabet, although the 



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