1 1 6 Heredity and Environment 



much, and there is freedom from poverty and carking 

 care, and from the constant temptation towards excess 

 and vice, and there is leisure which can be devoted to 

 the higher development of each individual, physically, 

 intellectually, and ethically. 



It is evident that it is no less necessary to alter the 

 environment of the " idle rich," " who toil not, neither 

 do they spin," than that of the millions in poverty, 

 whose hours of labour are much too long. No doubt 

 many of them work and do not spare themselves ; 

 some are philanthropists and statesmen, who " scorn 

 delights and live laborious days " in order to benefit 

 their fellow-men. These, who are the exception, do not 

 require any change in their surroundings as far as they 

 personally are concerned. But we have to do with 

 average men and women, who cannot thrive in an 

 atmosphere of luxury. It is bad for the individual and 

 for the raec, as the tendency is towards extinction in 

 process of time unless rejuvenated from the lower 

 orders. Until society ceases to have castes or orders, 

 and every man has sufficient for his needs and leisure 

 to develop his higher nature, there can be no improve- 

 ment or rejuvenation of the race. A healthy environ- 

 ment for all men, without distinction of rank or wealth, 

 is an absolute necessity if this is to be attained. As we 

 have said, we hope to prove that the attainment of this 

 ideal is in process now and will reach complete fulfil- 

 ment in course of time. It will doubtless be a long 

 process, for the mills of God grind slowly. But there 

 must be few who, once they have grasped the possi- 

 bility of the realisation of the ideal state, would wish to 

 preserve a system of evil environment for both the 

 workers and the privileged class, and an atmosphere of 

 misery and pain for the great majority of mankind. 



We all know, as a matter of experience, that as a rule 

 the worst thing that can happen to a man is to attain 



