212 THE RIGHT TO BE WELL BOEN 



less they avoid the mistakes of those whose 

 fate has been recited. It is well known that 

 the young people of our best families in- 

 dulge in the use of alcohol, cigarettes and 

 cigars at their social functions. At most 

 every luncheon and dinner, there is set be- 

 fore both men and women cocktails, liquors, 

 cigarettes and cigars. Young women, as 

 well as young men, drink liquors and strong 

 wines and smoke cigarettes to excess; and 

 the young girls often outdrink the men. 

 Whatever of worth, of brainpower, of 

 physical vigor they have received from 

 their parents is being slowly polluted. 

 They are thus rendering themselves unfit 

 to produce vigorous children. They will see 

 when too late sons come into their homes 

 utterly unfit to carry on the family name. 

 The excuse book is closed forever. The 

 laws of heredity are positive and unchange- 

 able. 



I do not believe that young men and 

 young women would live the lives of dissi- 

 pation which they do today did they know 

 that over-indulgence meant weak children, 

 or no children at all. I believe that if they 



