THE ERA OF HELPLESSNESS 35 



them have an advantage in the struggle for exist- 

 ence over those which have traits that do not, and 

 therefore a chance to live longer and reproduce more 

 numerously. 



This in the long run of succeeding generations 

 must, caeteris paribus, result not only in an actual 

 increase in their numbers, but also in an increase in 

 the proportion in which this number stands toward 

 the entire numerical strength of the race to which 

 they belong. 



When the alterations are unfavorable to adap- 

 tation, then the reverse takes place; viz., those 

 affected tend to die earlier and to produce less 

 numerous offspring. This must, in succeeding gen- 

 erations, cause a gradual diminution of their number, 

 and therefore a lessening of the proportional relation 

 in which this stands toward the sum total of indi- 

 viduals in the race. 



Since these new trait individuals, being compara- 

 tively few, are at first greatly outnumbered by the 

 average race type, therefore it is, caeteris paribus, 

 much more probable that they will sexually mate 

 with these far more numerous specimens. Mating 

 with the average transmits the new traits to the 

 next generation, from one parent only, therefore, in 

 lessened degree. Then these specimens, which 

 possess only an impaired quality of the new traits, 

 will most probably and in most cases again mate 

 with the far more numerous average type, and thus 

 the new traits appear still more feebly in the next 



