CHAPTER VII. 



STERILITY OF THE CAPABLES. 



WE saw, in the last chapter, that in social com- 

 munities the struggle of one individual with another 

 for wealth and power is not a fair and open contest, 

 but that all are more or less handicapped by surround- 

 ing conditions, lack of capital, education, or influence. 

 We saw that recently more equal chances for success 

 are being given to all, and with the result that the 

 more capable and pushing are gradually tending to 

 form a new upper class, and thereby draining from 

 the labouring classes all those who possess the 

 qualities we have alluded to. 



Are the More Capable Relatively Sterile? 



So far we have viewed this as a struggle for wealth 

 and position, and have purposely kept out of view its 

 influence upon those who will come after us : this we 

 have now to consider. Provided the successful and 

 capable competitors contribute on an average an equal 

 number of children per head, as do the unsuccessful 

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