264 THE MEANING OF EVOLUTION 
the still worse handicap of an illegitimate parentage, 
with all its bitter train of scorn and shame. Ac- 
cordingly, it must be possible before the law for 
those who are not thoroughly vigorous to marry. 
But, year by year, we may come nearer accomplish- 
ing a finer mating by the aims and purposes we foster 
in the growing generation. Marriages will never be 
worth while when they are not freely entered into 
by the contracting parties. Choice must be free and 
unrestricted if it is to last for life; but this does not 
mean that it must be unguarded. It would be bitter 
folly for parents to leave to their children, without 
attempt to influence or restrain, the making of their 
marriages. The mating of our children must be in- 
spired, not directed. 
There is one taint from which society has the 
right and the duty of freeing itself, so far as in its 
power lies. This is the taint of feeble-mindedness. 
Of all the calamities that can befall a human being, 
feeble-mindedness is, perhaps, the worst. From most 
misfortunes it is possible to recover; with most of 
the rest one may exist without detriment to the race. 
To be feeble-minded simply means to hark back to 
the level of our animal ancestors, without regaining 
their power to guide life. The animal is provided 
with a bundle of instincts which tell him what to 
do in all the ordinary emergencies of life. The hu- 
