102 MORAL CONDITION OF THE CHILD 



shown in those cases where no physical deformity 

 is known in the parentage, and where the off- 

 spring is removed from the evil environment es- 

 tablished by the evil parents. 



The doctrine of the heredity of the spirit from 

 our parents mnst assume that the disposition of 

 the child will be like that of the parents. If this 

 were a true assumption, then all children of the 

 same parents would be of like disposition and 

 have the same moral qualities. This is not even 

 approximately true. Again, an analysis of the 

 moral and character qualities of the parents does 

 not account for the moral constitution of the 

 child. Abraham Lincoln was a conspicuous ex- 

 ample of one who can not be accounted for by 

 his parents. The biographical mystery of his per- 

 sonality, so often mentioned, would no longer hold 

 the attention if the assumed law of heredity 

 should be put aside as invalid. Who can ac- 

 count on the basis of this law for the fact that 

 Aaron Burr, the greatest moral degenerate that 

 America has ever produced, is the grandson of 

 Jonathan Edwards, the greatest spiritual genius 

 that America has yet produced? 



Still there are noticeable resemblances between 

 children and parents. Musicians are often the 

 children of musicians; many other instances of 

 resemblance may be noted. (1) The influence of 

 environment may account for most of this. (2) 

 We do inherit from our parents a physical life. 

 The peculiarities of this physique show them- 



