The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1897-07-17
Is Intelligent and Wise
Percentage
HEREDITY is NOT ALL
ON THE PART OF
MEN AND WOMEN
Responsible for the Army of Defect
ives-Helen II. Gardeners Pow
erful Lecture Last Night

erIul Lecture Last NlSuC
An audience that comfortably filled
Unity church assembled last evening tC
hear Miss Helen H. Gardener speak or
1.-The Modification of Hereditary Traits
Mrs. Elmira T. Stephens introduced the
speaker with a few graceful words, anc
Mrs. Gardener, with a witty allusion t.
the difficulty of Giving up to an intro
duction," assailed her subject by stat
ing that the lecture she had been asked
to read was the second of series, the
first being 'Heredity," but that she
would assure her hearers that the facts
they would have to assume were demon
strable.
For an hour Mrs. Gardener held the
absorbed attention of her audience, while
she delivered powerful, logical address
with gravity and force that was con-
vincing. She illustrated her points with
concrete cases that had come under hei
observation and quoted the most noted
specialists and practitioners all over the
world to emphasize her personal eXpe
riences. She was frequently interrupt
ed with applause, and in part, she said
1t has been we'll said by Herbert Spen-
Ger and others that the question involved
in the discussion of heredity is not tenn
porary issue, and that its solution Will
affect all future thought. Whether OF
not acquired character is transmitted
to children is the most important ques-
ton that confronts the human race, fof
it is upon the character of the race that
depends, and will depend, the condition
of the race. No school of scientists ques-
tions the fact of heredity, but there is a
warm and greatly misunderstood con-
test over the exact method used by ma
ture in the transmission. Whichever OF
whatever the exact process may be,
is the province of the scientist only;
the facts and results are before us and
concerns each of us more vitality than
does the question of what we shall eat
drink or wear. We all readily grant that
the most proficient linguist does not pro-
duce children who can read without be-
ing taught, but the how and why this il
so belongs to the laboratory.
1t is the sociological aspect of the
fact that touches us. and that the facl
exists 1 proved by going to a number OF
those who had large hospital and asy-
lum experience, and l found that therl
could be no doubt of the fact that ac-
quired characters or conditions are
transmitted, and it is this fact which is
the appalling thing for parents to face
1t was the same story from each and
every practitioner The hospital and
asylum experts, the specialists in dis
eases of mind and body which were due
to direct requirement. such as drunk
enness and certain disorders of body
and mind, all We're particularly strong
in expressing their contempt for even a
theory that acquired character and con-
dition We're not transmittable. And in
some lines of practice the acquired ma
| ture of the modified character is readily
traced and the transmission, or heredity
susceptible of proof beyond controversy.
PARENTS RESPONSIBLE
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