PARENT AND OFFSPRING 143 



not only the good, but also the bad, were allowed 

 to multiply. Now we have once more come to 

 realize the necessity of ridding society of its dregs 

 (by no means always belonging to the lower 

 classes); but instead of killing the unfit, it is now 

 proposed to prevent them from perpetuating their 

 kind, so as to propagate only from the fit that is, 

 the best. People are gradually learning that it 

 is a crime to burden a child with a bad inheritance, 

 such as a tendency to consumption, insanity, epilepsy, 

 etc. ; and that it is better for such children not to be 

 born at all. In other words, eugenics, or the art of 

 breeding good stock, is becoming an established 

 creed of the time; not only do we wish to cure ills 

 which has been done at all times but we have 

 become wiser in trying to prevent them. Besides 

 endeavouring to provide the best possible environ- 

 ment for all, we must help to improve the race itself 

 by seeing that everybody is born with a sound in- 

 heritance. When these endeavours are joined with 

 genuine sympathy and affection, when love is given 

 a truly human form by eliminating all suffering, 

 waste, and unhappiness, it is then that Life's promise 

 in its wonderful growth through courtship, marriage, 

 and parenthood, will reach its highest fulfilment. 



