II 



to be pure. If in the laboratory of nature we combine two parts of 

 hydrogen and one of oxygen, we call the resulting compound water ; 

 but, in the chemistry of life, if we combine two parts of immorality, 

 which is moral depravity, one part of insanity, which is mental 

 depravity, and two parts of disease, which is physical depravity, 

 who can tell us what the product will be ? Do we not have this 

 identical problem to deal with in heredity ? Every day of our 

 lives we see this sad debauchery in chemistry, and the experiment- 

 ation makes the world shudder to look at the Jearful results. 



If in the sacred laboratory of wedlock we combine these three 

 ingredients, immorality, insanity, disease, we must remember that 

 the laws of nature are never false. If the resulting compound is 

 not as we would have it, it is because the proper ingredients were 

 not used. We must ever remember that, being in the midst of 

 conflicting influences, it is impossible for man to remain in a state 

 of equilibrium. In the rebellion of influences, the stronger will be 

 victorious, and after each conflict he is either raised one step higher 

 in the scale of life or descends one step lower. By yielding to 

 degrading influences, man's powers are weakened, and he is rend- 

 ered less able to battle with the lurking foes awaiting him. By 

 yielding to ennobling influences his powers are strengthened, and 

 he is led to still greater conquests. 



If we would only make a wise selection of our environment, for, 

 bear in mind, it is the circumstances of the environment from the 

 cradle to the grave that determine our future destiny and a judicious 

 use of our functions, we should always be found in the upward road 

 to perfect development. But if we choose an abnormal environ- 

 ment and aid it by functional inactivity or functional excesses, we 

 shall find, as we are carried downwards in ihe road to degeneracy, 

 that our only blessing will be ignorance and immornlity, poverty 

 and disease. In all nature there are no evils without a remedy, 

 if we but wisely seek it. So it is with evils of heredity. Nature 

 furnishes poisons for the assassin ; she also furnishes antidotes 

 for the physician. As we deal with disease so should we deal 

 with crime, as we cannot isolate either from heredity. 



Children should be taught by wise mothers and fathers that 

 ignorance of the laws of nature does not necessarily mean inno- 

 cence in character ; it is by knowledge that we gain power. A 

 well-known gentleman has said, one who is born with such con- 

 genital incapacity that nothing can make a gentleman of him, is 

 entitled, not to our wrath, but to our profoundcst sympathy. 



Those unfortunate victims who receive moral poisons from their 

 ancestors, and those who receive bodies tainted with impurities, 

 have no moral right whatever to entail upon helpless offspring 

 the bitter fruits of their own ancestral sins. Such homes are the 

 incubators for vice and moral depravity, and it is at their firesides 

 that we find the congenital criminal. 



It may appear rather a drastic measure, but there should be a 

 gulf put between congenital criminals and the rest of mankind by 



