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Number 10. al ab A all la r rupmer ـــــــہ sur حـص -■r D vitality; for in spite of tremendous opposition it has already taken its place in the galaxy of recognised sciences. The laws of heredity are the principal butresses of this infant science. Francis Galton the founder of this science says:- “The fact that the laws of heredity apply to man equally with the lower animals and plants and that the mental functions are subject .to the same laws of heredity as the physical ones has yet to be taken to heart by the public.” 'The sa utory effects of natural selection in preventing the degeneracy of a race are so largely interfered with, and sometimes even inverted by civilization, that another form of prevention is peremptorily demanded.' From the passages quoted above, it is apparent that the Eugenist bases his theory of race-culture on the laws of heredity. He wishes to introduce into Western societies a caste-system not very unlike our own castesystem, only that he would not allow the Sutrits to propagato their species. The Eugenist seeks to exterminate where the early II indu sages segregated or isolated the banned' classes into watertight compartments' of caste-system. Says Dr. Galton ;— “Probably one of the first efforts in practical Eugenics will be to restrict the propagation of children by the notoriously unfit, whose marriages are now unhindered, if not sometimes fostered, by mistaken kindness.' Several scientists have joined issue on this point and a learned controversy is raging as to whether it is desirable to discourage the propagation of bad stock. Those whom we call the misfits of nature may have some latent virtues in them. We cannot doubt physical and moral defects co-exist with qualities, important for national welfare. Casor, Alexiander and Napoleon wire epileptics; Pascal was a neurasthanic ; Spinoza, Keats, Mozart were tubercular; Chatterton, Neitzche, the Brontes, John Davidson may be called the EUGENICS OF RACE-CULTURE. 495 Elbeful Hyr r ா baba misfits of nature. Yet they were the persons who changed human history, reformed human institutions and gave new directions to human thought. Thousands of such names may be added to the list, so that it may be doubted whether genius and unfitness go hand in hand. It is still impossible to account for the genius upon the ordinary lines of evolution. It is not inherited. It is rather a sport of Nature. On the other hand it has some close affinity with insanity. If so, is it expedient to put a ban upon the propagation of the so-called unfit P Another point is one who is useless as an individual may not necessarily be useless as a parent. It is known that in some cases the rogue or the wastrel has bccome the parent of a discoverer or a statesman. Some there are who have broken their birth's invidious bar. If so, we are not entitled to discourage the propagation of those who seem to us to be no better than more caitiffs. The Environmentalists hold that the jetsoms and flotsoms of society are what they are not for some inherent our ignorant society Several defects, but because does not know how to utilize them. wastrels have been reclaimed from the scum of society and have been turned into useful citizens. Under such circumstances we should not rashly rush to play the Providence. The third objection is that the laws of heredity are not sufficiently and accurately known ; so that we cannot, at present, take any drastic measure of social reform, based upon them. The fourth objection is that our aim should not be to produce the exceptional man and woman. They will not promote the well-being of society and are as a rule out of harmony with their surroundings. Most of them die childless. The list of those men of distinction who have either remained unmarried or died childless is a long one. Kant, Hume, Newton, Lister, Beithoven, Handel, Pope, lor. Johnson, Neitzsche, Carlyle etc., etc. may be