Eugenics as a Creed and the Last Decade of Galton's Life 343 



" considerable" -75 to -50, "moderate" -50 to -25 and "low" -25 to -00. I found writers were 

 always speaking of " high," " moderate " or " low " relationship and I thought it worth while to 

 make a start with more exactitude. 



It is extremely good of you to undertake a " Butler " pedigree *. Can you do one of the 

 " Pollocks " also ? The " Darwins " are already done and we shall want ten at least for the first 

 number. Can you think of any families that we might look up in the Eugenics Office Records? 

 We could put together two or three science ones from the Noteworthy Families. We want one 

 or two " governmental " or " executive " families. If you can think of any names, we will see if 

 they are already done in the Laboratory Records. 



Will you do us another favour, i.e. write a page, or, if it must be, only half a page of 

 preface to the first part? If the thing starts well, it will go on through the years, until it will 

 be the great mine for searchers after nuggets of heredity, and it would be pleasant to think of a 

 few lines from you starting what will be a great monument, I hope, of your inspiration. I am 

 sending you back a prospectus (rough form) to be a slight guide as to the nature of the work. 

 I am asking Professor Osier of Oxford to write me a few lines of appeal to the younger medical 

 men to aid from that side. He is the one man before whom the profession bows down, and if 

 he aids it will be a great gain. I must not write more as I am rather invalided with a four 

 days' attack of neuralgia. I got the doctor in to-day, but we have not yet succeeded in getting 

 to the root of the trouble. Affectionately, Karl Pearson. 



[A leaf from a calendar was attached containing the words :] 



July 13, Monday. "Gather, then, each flower that grows, 



When the young heart overflows, 

 To embalm that tent of snows f." 

 Maidenhood. 



t Did any man of science ever write as wildly and carelessly as this famous poet 1 



Shirrell House, Shedfield, Botley, Hants. August 11, 1908. 



My dear Karl Pearson, I long to know how you are faring, and that the neuralgia 

 has ceased. All is abundantly right with myself; moreover my publisher's men have been 

 active and during the past week have sent me the whole of my " Memories " in proof, which 

 has occupied all my working hours to revise. But this is done now. I had hoped to hear 

 from you something more about the " Thesaurus," and to see your circular which probably 

 contains a specimen of how you wanted biographies drawn up— whether in respect to a single 

 character or how far generally ? In your letter and in the lithographed page I see no provision 

 for symbolising school-boy or university success, obtained when the person has not completed his 

 opportunities. Thus, how to symbolise a youth of much school promise, and who has gained an 

 open scholarship, but is not old enough yet to compete for higher things. I have at least three 

 such cases in the Butler family. The same kind of difficulty of classification may occur in 

 other subjects. Thus : — " not affected but still within the danger zone." 



You ask about whom to apply to for the Inge, Buxton and other families. Ask Professor 

 Inge himself. I can't recollect his address (I think in Brookside) but " Cambridge " would 

 surely find him. The pedigree at the Eugenics Office was sent by him and he is very willing. 

 Sir X. Y. would either do, or get the thing done, for his family. He has some near lady 

 relative who is versed in pedigrees, but it would be awkward to address him about tuberculosis 

 for instance. I fear the maladies of that family would be like skeletons in their cupboards. 

 Both Sir Vernon Lushington and Sir Ed. Fry, heads of their respective families, would be likely 

 to contribute. 



You will probably have seen Crackanthorpe's letters to the Times about the Feeble 

 Minded Report, one on Friday and one to-day. I have not yet procured the Report itself but 

 am writing for it to-day. (I read the Times extract of it.) 



You will gather from the above that I have done nothing last week in respect to the 

 proposed "send off" or to the Butler family. I have been working up to my full strength 



* Pedigrees of families distinguished for scholarly, literary or executive power were being 

 compiled in the Eugenics Laboratory. 



