Eugenics as a Creed and the Last Decade of Galton's Life 419 



of Miss Augusta at this time, as she was invited to a succession of parties. The first four were 

 official invitations given to ensure that each girl probationer should be made acquainted with 

 an equal number of male probationers three or more years older in standing. The male proba- 

 tioners are divided more or less at random into two groups A and B, the females into F and 

 G, then the four official invitations are to A and F, A and G, B and F, and B and G. They 

 have an amusing old-fashioned method of grouping and re-grouping the guests at these enter- 

 tainments, in order that each girl should have a full half hour of conversation with each 

 young man. It approached merry-making and banished diffidence. It seems however that 

 marriages between two newly made probationers are not particularly approved. It is thought 

 best that the girls should marry young, say about 22 years of age, which admits of more than 

 4 generations being produced in each century. As for the men, they have to establish themselves 

 in some occupation before they can support a wife, which cannot usually be done till nearly the 

 age of thirty. Consequently many social gatherings are arranged to bring together young girl 

 probationers and older unmarried men, also of the rank of probationers. Persons may fall in 

 love in Kantsaywhere as they do in England, on grounds more or less unaccountable to others, 

 but it is felt here that the best girls and the best men should have frequent opportunities 

 . of becoming friends and the earliest chance of falling in love with one another. 



" I was surprised to learn from the Calendar of the large extent of the College possessions 

 in farms, houses, hostels, and funds, which were used to encourage early marriages among the 

 most highly diplomaed ; I also perceived that the Collegiates must look upon themselves, as 

 they did, as a great family community, out of which about one half of the members of each new 

 generation were obliged to seek their living elsewhere, just as it usually happens in English 

 families now. The Calendar contained the names of all who, since the date of the preceding 

 edition, had either received marks exceeding + 70 or any special award. The record in the 

 Calendar of their doings was minute. It corresponded in length to the paragraphs of Burke's 

 or Debrett's Peerages, but differed totally from them by containing anthropological facts, and 

 little else. It was a mine of information for inquirers into heredity, yet it was described as 

 being only a brief abstract of what was preserved in MSS. in the records of the Registrar. 



" Tom had hinted to me that he thought his sister was slightly chagrined at her marks falling 

 short of one half of those required for the great honour of a College wedding. The number of 

 names of the men amongst whom she must marry, in order to secure one, was very small, and 

 could easily be found from the Calendar. I looked for them and found only twelve, some or all 

 of whom might be already engaged. 



"The large property of the College consisted, first, of the original endowment, of which the 

 income was now retained in England and had been accumulating during recent years to form 

 an Emergency Fund. Secondly, of the fee simple of the district and of all the houses, etc., that 

 had been erected on it since the beginning of the Settlement. Thirdly, of gifts and bequests 

 from former Collegiates, in gratitude for their rearing and in payment for its cost. Fourthly, 

 the annual Eugenic Rates from Kantsaywhere. The inhabitants submitted as cheerfully to as 

 heavy a rate in support of the College, as we do for the support of our Fleet, namely three 

 quarters of £1 per head of the population. We in England, numbering some 45 millions, con- 

 tribute about 35 millions of pounds annually to the maintenance of our Navy. Here, the 

 10,000 inhabitants contribute £7,500 to the College, and could easily be persuaded to contribute 

 more, if it were really needed. In very round numbers one half of the income from the last 

 two sources, from gifts and from rates, goes to the Examining, Inspecting and Registering 

 Departments, which together form the soul of the place. The other half goes to collegiates who 

 really need help to enable them to give proper nurture to their large families. This is done very 

 judiciously on the joint recommendations made to the Committee of Awards, by a Board of 

 District Visitors in conjunction with the District Inspector. The Chief Medical Inspector is 

 one of three High Officials, the Rector and the Registrar being the other two. These are elected 

 by the Senate at its Annual General Meetings for a term of three years, and are re-eligible. 

 The Senate consists of all resident Collegiates of either sex, who had gained at least 70 marks, 

 or who are parents of children whose average marks exceed 70 and whose total marks exceed 

 200, and is the supreme Authority, but in quiet times, the above-mentioned three High Officials, 

 together with a Council, annually elected at the General Meeting, manage matters very much 

 in their own way. This constitution works very well on the whole, though with occasional jars, 

 much as those which occur in our leading Scientific Societies at home. 



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