32 Heredity and Child Culture 



rounded by elevating and stimulating influences 

 from birth. Perhaps the Edwards' owed 

 about as much to an ideal social as to a good 

 organic heritage. 



For many years I was one of the directors of 

 the Children's Village located in the country 

 near New York. Incorrigible boys are com- 

 mitted here by the courts for necessary restraint 

 and education, after committing petty crimes. 

 At the Village they are sent to school in a cot- 

 tage community, given vocational training, and 

 their energies have free outlet in outdoor sports. 

 In other words, they are given a good social en- 

 vironment to take the place of former bad sur- 

 roundings. The great majority of these chil- 

 dren eventually turn out well. Many have been 

 sent West where they have made good citizens 

 and some have even become eminent in their 

 communities. Doubtless a large number of 

 these unfortunate children started with a fairly 

 good organic inheritance, but, whether they did 

 or not, a bad social inheritance was immediately 

 responsible for their downfall, and, when this 



