i 4 2 HEREDITY AND SOCIETY 



large share of physical strength and endurance, and the 

 instinctive skill in manual work which so often excites 

 our admiration. Thus the clerk inherits assiduity and 

 accuracy, and the honesty without which other clerkly 

 qualities are as nought. Thus the manufacturer's son 

 is born with the power of managing the complicated 

 system of his mill, and of foreseeing the combinations 

 and other factors which control the markets for his 

 goods. Thus the soldier possesses the instinct of self- 

 sacrifice, the power of commanding men, with that 

 quick insight and decision in a dark situation which 

 are necessary for success in the " fog of war." Thus 

 the old governing classes of England, as of other 

 similar nations, incorporate an instinctive sense of 

 public duty and acquire a large share of the natural 

 aptitude for administration. 



It has been said by a competent observer that the 

 collective stupidity even of the most intelligent and 

 civilized societies is stupendous. " A society will pro- 

 fess to believe in human equality and yet maintain 

 enormous differences of social position. It will destroy 

 distinctions of rank and thereby leave the field open 

 for the most insidious and irresponsible form of power, 

 that of plutocracy. Its democratic jealousy will debar 

 the upper classes from all access to honourable and 

 useful careers of social service, and it will thereupon 

 complain of the idle rich. It will try to cure poverty 

 by alms-giving, and to restrain animalism by preaching 

 celibacy." What are we to take as the real mind of 

 society on these points the doctrine it preaches or 

 the conditions it establishes ? Who is to interpret this 

 oft-quoted, much-vaunted " will of the people " ? 



