Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1891-05-22
THE PROFESSIONAL CLUB,
"C@sar's Image and SuperscrlptlOn."
THE LAW OF HBREDITY
AS Discussed by DIR. Draper in his Paper
before the Club on Monday Evening.


80 people-members of the Professional
club and their guests, ladies and gentlemen
Gathered at the Brooks House paror
Monday evening in celebration of the annu-
al ladies' night of the club. DIR. Draper was
the essayist. The enigmatical title of his
paper, Caesars image and superscription,'
had aroused much curiosity as to its sub
iect matter, although many, knowing the
doctors lifelong habits of thought and
study, had doubtless partially OWNED what
might be hidden under such title. IL oc-
casioned no surprise, therefore, when, in
his first sentence, the essayist said his real
subject was "IIeredity."
While recognizing the difficulty of treat
ing this subject apart from the laws OF ev-
oution, Dr. Draper entered into no discus
sion of this scientific theory, but for the
purposes of his paper accepted man as he
is found at the beginning of human histo-
ry, in the full possession of the capacities
and possibilities with which he is endowed
today. When looking back over the pages
of recorded history the question naturally
arises why mans development has not pro
ceeded more rapidly. In answer to this
inquiry lies the fact that every human be
ing enters life as an explorer enters
strange country and each begins just as
every other one has, while few profit by
the experience of others until they have
profited by their own. Natural endowment
varies in different individuals. 1t gives one
a start or il cumbers one with load Every
individual has a heritage good or bad.
Every one has his progenitor and is the
image of his prototype, or perhaps more
correctly, the composite representative of
his ancestry as a whole.
The most apparent opportunity to study
the course and effect of heredity is afforded
by lines or families of reigning sovereigns,
but the effort is disappointing, for the rea-
son that heredity does not follow in di-
rect line, and there are unaccountable
apses and diagonal crossings. In the case
of the CAESARS, the most notable illustration
afforded by history, all consanguinity
ceased with Nero.
The first form of heredity in the individ
ual is the human type itself. In this re-
spect there is no departure, or has been
none within the range OF human knowl-
edge. The variations are, however, great.
and the nice diversity which runs through
nature is wonderful The five great races
which embrace the population of the globe
have all imprinted upon them certain pc
culiarties of facial form and complexion
which have changed little in all the centu-
ries of human existence. Next to races,
notiOnal diversities are the most striking.
and these sub-types preserve their distinct
i've features almost as endnringly as the
originals. No matter how great the inter
minging in the worlds centres of popula-
ton, the ancestral marks seem not to be
etfaced. In our own country, where exists
the greatest medley of individuals in the
world the memorable law holds good.
Next in order after the human type GER
tain organized experiences are inherited,
and first the instincts, possessed in common
by man and the lower animals. The in
stincts are the first step in the line of men
tai organization, and it may be accepted as
an established fact that they come from
habits fixed by heredity. Instinct is or
ganized memory, whether regarded as the
minimum of intelligence or the lowest
form of it. If the heredity of instinct is
established, that Of intelligence is also to
be presumed. Phenomena of memory are
explained upon the law of indestructibili-
ty of force. Nothing perishes. All i'm
preSsions made upon the memory leave
residuum which under certain circum-
stances may be re-awakened. Not one of
us but would be surprised or astounded at
what might be found in the depths of his
own mind.
Precedents, first acts, cannot be too
greatly exaggerated in their importance.
They are the beginning of habits and he
realities. Heredty is a specific memory.
1t is to the species what ordinary memory
is to the individual.
Next in order we must recognize the gen
esis of the sentiments by the same law.
Illustrating this is the fact that among
primitive peoples certain sentiments appear
to be wholly wanting. In the Australian
language there are no words by which to
translate justice, sin or crime The French
language has no word which stands for
home
Next comes the question which place
shall be given to organism and which to
mentality. This question has never yet been
answered, and for the purposes of this
paper they are considered as coeval. We
know nothing of mind apart from its ply
Biological relations. We know nothing of
an organized body Independent of some of
the attributes of mind. This point settled
we go on farther.
Biology deals in a general way with the
relations of man, both to his ancestry and
to his pOsterity, and recognizes the influ-
ences that modify the race. OF these in
fiuences the law of heredity is the most
potent, and mental characteristics are no
less hereditary than physical peculiarities.
IL is also shown that functional disorders
in one generation may become diseases of
structure in succeeding one. Still further
1t appears that man is modified in person
and posterity by his environment. Resi-
dence in hot countries, producing dark
compilations, has been noticed to tell upon
children born after the parents had removed
from those countries.
Psychological development proceeds on
the principle that there is nothing i'm the
intellect that is not first i'm the senses.
Memory appertains to our organized psy-
chical, impressions and involves an associa-
ton of ideas. Automatic associations only
are involved in habit, and when thus or
ganized they disappear from memory prop
er. There are therefore two processes 90
ing on in all our minds New impressions
are constantly being received and old ones.
by being constantly repeated, are becoming
organized and Independent, thus disappear
ing from the general store-house. 1t is
these increasing, organized impressions that
little by little are added to the endowment
of our posterity.
The work of man would be in vain but for |
the help of heredity. Reciprocal influences
must always be taken into account. One
tendency is modified by another, but i'm the 1
nice balancing of counter influences lit |
tie gain or little loss is added to or sub |
tracted from the endowment received and
passed on. This is Whittier's thought
when he says that
tStan nv star, einca finn, b.,.o.