Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1894-01-19

cy subject to the laws of heredity, is crime.
Aristotle recognized this 2300 years ago.
Speaking upon the heritage of moral de-
pravity he tells of the case of a man who
denied his responsibility for beating his
father, "because my father beat his father
and he again beat his, and he also (point-
lug to his child) will beat me when he be-
comes a man, for it runs in our family"
The case of the New York family of Grim
inals, known as the Jukes, often quoted in
literature upon crime, was cited. The his
tory of the family begins in 1850 and in
cludes 700 persons, of whom more than
100 were the descendants of Margaret,
the mother of criminals One hundred
and eighty were paupers and received, al
together 800 years of aid, while aside from
petty crimes and thieving 40 were CON
victed of crime and received sentences ag-
gregating 40 years.
Francis Gallon has shown, in a careful
review of the lives of the kindred of about
400 illustrious men of all periods of hsto-
ry, that the qualities which characterized
them were, under the limitations already
mentioned, hereditary, and he states the
conclusion that, "as it is easy by process
of careful selection to obtain a breed of
dogs or horses gifted with a peculiar pow
er, so it would be quite practicable to pro-
duce highly gifted race of men by judi
cious marriage during several generations"
His statistics show that ability does not
often rise abruptly, but rather by gradu-
al and regular curve in the generations that
preceded its elimination.
The essayist said in conclusion: 1.-THE
enquiry might be continued through every
attribute of any species, race or individual
with the same result. The offspring al
ways combine in some degree the qualities
of both lines of ancestry. Capabilities
and aptitudes must descend from the pa
rents. Crime and disease come in the
same way. Heredity itself develops moth
ing, but it holds and faithfully transmits
from generation to generation, patent and
latent characteristics. The tendencies of
the organism we inherit may be in the
main, good or bad, they could scarcely be
exclusively either, and they may be modi-
fled by education and other forces of envi-
ronment.'
The paper bore the unmistakable mark
of exhaustive reading in Dr. Thompson's
speciality, and of able and faithful work in
summarizing and preparing the conclusions
reached for the benefit af the club. The
discussion which followed it was led by
Principal Horne and DR.. Conland, and de
veloped an unusual degree of spirit and
interest.
Mr.. Day read letter, received by him
from Hon. Dorman b. Eaton, in which
Mr.. Eaton says that he has suffered, since
Dec. l, a severe attack of nervous prostra-
ton, and though now improving, it is
doubtful if he deems it wise to try to fulfil
his promise to prepare paper for the club
during the present season.
From Judge Shea letter was read stat
ing that he will probably prefer to give his
paper on Fort Sumter in April or May.
At the February meeting of the clIb
Lawyer Clarke c. Fits will read the paper
on The American Congress. Gov.
Fuller, as president of the club, appointed
Judge Wheeler and Judge J. NJ. Tyler to
open the discussion, with Hon. J, L. Mar
tin and c. II. Davenport as alternates.