88 Heredity, Variation and Genius 



outcome and expression of its specific unity. 

 In face of the hard thought that characters which 

 are thus organically dependent can be exactly 

 analyzed and rightly studied as independent, one 

 may still perhaps own that in the mysteries of a 

 complex organism there is something more than 

 a mere quasi-mechanical distribution and com- 

 bination of characters can explain; although light- 

 winged fancy might picture it as an immense, 

 though unheard, harmony in which, as in a grand 

 orchestra, each instrument is separate and makes 

 its special contribution to the musical concord. 



In the absence of all exact knowledge of the 

 laws of heredity speculation concerning human 

 perfectibility as well as human degeneracy are 

 too hastily and confidently put forth. While men 

 are always apt to believe that they are advancing 

 they are always apt to suspect that they are 

 deteriorating. Lamentations over human degene- 

 racy are nowise new ; they have been so frequent 

 ever since the deplorable degeneracy of our first 

 ancestor that the present wonder is that the race 

 is still extant. Evidently some countervailing 

 force of redemption must have wrought continu- 

 ously through the ages, not once or twice cata- 

 clysmally, to preserve and, as the pleasing hope 

 is, to improve it. It is certain that the occurrence 

 of insane, vicious, or even criminal persons in 

 a family does not necessarily signify such a 

 degeneration of the family stock as shall end in 

 progressive deterioration and ultimate extinction 



