440 HEREDITY AND ENVIRONMENT 



for others. With much more complete knowl- 

 edge regarding human inheritance than we 

 now possess it may ultimately be possible to 

 give such advice wisely, especially with respect 

 to physical characteristics which are hereditar- 

 ily simple and generally of minor significance. 

 But where the character is an extremely com- 

 plex one as in intellectual ability, moral recti- 

 tude, judgment and poise, which are the chief 

 characteristics which distinguish the great man 

 from his fellows, it will probably never be pos- 

 sible to predict the result before the event. 

 He would be a bold prophet who would un- 

 dertake to predict the type of personality which 

 might be expected in the children of a given 

 union. Some very unpromising stocks have 

 brought forth wonderful products. Could 

 anyone have predicted Abraham Lincoln from 

 a study of his ancestry? Observe I say "pre- 

 dict," and not "explain" after his appearance. 

 Can anyone now predict from what kind of 

 ancestral combinations the great scholars, 

 statesmen, men of affairs of the next gener- 

 ation will come? The time may come when it 

 will be possible to predict what the chances are 



