2 Heredity, Variation and Genius 



hension of the predominant part which the quality 

 of the stock plays in the transmission of qualities 

 and the foundation of character. Always a basic 

 fault in the stock is liable or likely to appear in 

 one or another offspring of parents who them- 

 selves have shown no sign of it ; the bad streak, 

 Alphaeus-like, having gone under for a while to 

 come again to the surface in the stream of 

 descent. No one, be his aims and ambitions, 

 his regrets and resolves, his triumphs and mis- 

 haps what they may, evades the fate of his organ- 

 ization. Happy he then who, looking back on 

 a sound ancestry, can rest in the quiet confidence 

 of a good descent ; in all changes and chances of 

 life it shall stand him in good stead. 



Besides the manifest inheritance of physical and 

 mental features of both parents either in the 

 same forms or in various blends and proportions 

 offspring exhibit features not visible in either of 

 them, not even it may be in their known ancestry. 

 Every one has his idiosyncrasy, being essentially 

 himself, not another self, notwithstanding the 

 multitude of selves that are and are likely to be. 

 Diversities do not at first sight seem so natural 

 and necessary as it does for a child to resemble 

 its father or mother. Whence comes the invention 

 which the new feature is ? Somehpw from the 

 union of the special qualities of two stocks com- 

 positions of germinal elements issuing in organic 

 variations have taken effect. But is that strange 

 at all ? Compositions in organic natures are 



