IX.] Mr. Buckle's Fallacies. 149 



" other things equal, development varies as function," ^ 

 — that is, the growth of any organ depends upon its 

 activity. We are everywhere met by instances 

 of this — not only in the gymnast, who surprises us 

 by the great size and power of his muscles ; not only 

 in the sailor, who sees a ship in the distant offing, 

 where the passenger can descry but a speck ; not 

 only in the musician, who recognises as different two 

 sounds which, to unpractised ears, are alike ; but also 

 in the man of science, who unravels with ease pro- 

 blems which, to common apprehension, are insoluble. 

 " On this law are based all maxims and methods of 

 right education, intellectual, moral, and physical." ^ 

 Expressed in the form, " Practice makes perfect," 

 it is an axiom in every one's mouth. By exercising 

 an organ, we increase its size and power. By neglect- 

 ing to exercise it, we cause it to become diminutive, 

 weak, inefficient. 



It is evident, then, that when an individual has 

 grown to maturity in the constant exercise of any 

 faculty, the organ answering to that faculty will be 

 correspondingly developed ; and that, in the natural 

 course of things, he will transmit to his offspring that 

 faculty in its state of increased power. Thus it is 

 that a Philip becomes the father of an Alexander; 

 ^ Spencer's Essays, p. 262. * Ibid, p. 263. 



