The Washington herald., 1909-04-05
GenealOgy and Cooperation.
iitor The vashinFt0u HeraId .

Editor The Washington Herald.
Genealogy can render a better service
in the future than Il has rendered IN the
past. There are poor descendants Of an
cestral plutocrats and there are rich de-
scendsnts Of paupers. This Is because a
formerly beneficial instinct or other i'm
pressed habit persists after its environ
ing or inducing cause has changed.
The children OF the ultra rich. relieved
from the necessity or incentive TO exer-
ton. fail 10 develop their powers. The
consequence is that such children and
their children go a downward course on
the other hand. those whom necessity
drives develop their powers. form new
habits. and they in their turn become the
plutOcrats. Neither the strenuous rise
nor the easy slide is best for the indi-
vidual or for the race. Nor are the labor
ing and the wealthy classes permanently
divided by inheritance and legacy. as
many seem 20 so think. Nor is a man s
happiness doubled by the doubling OF his
dollars.
That the number Of ancestors was dou-
bled IN each preceding generation, or
that marriage was between those on op-
posite gradients. or that there were DIFF
ferent speeds on the same gradient. or
that numbers Of poor children never sue
ceed. does not alter the main fact
Among the lower animals natural in
stinct teaches self-preservation and care
for young. Their inherited powers re-
quire no extraneous teaching They re-
member little Of yesterday, and think
less OF tomorrow Their parental care
All
and that during infancy only. The
changes In their environment are so slow
that their habits usually change to meet
them But when the two changes do not
synchronize, a formerly useful instinct
becomes injurious and leads 20 degen-
eracy or death
Like the lower animals, man has the
instincts OF self-preservatiOn and parental
care But. unlike them, his powers are
largely mental and require special train
ing TO At him for making a living in his
ready-made environment This is par
ticularly so in the so-caIled civilized life
Of the temperate zones, and IS necessary
in each succeeding generation. His pow
ers develop best in moderate circum-
stances and the welfare OF the human
race requires that he be neither extremely
rich nor extremely poor
For the present purpose 1t is not neces-
sary 70 inquire into the beginning or des-
tiny of the human race, nor whether man
is incapable OF an unselfsh thought. nor
why he cares for his offspring HIS two
strongest feelings are to make a living
and 10 care for his children. Between
the extremes Of his needs and his whims
are natural desires. the moderate gratifi-
cation Of which is not unwholesome.
Among these is the mating instinct. which
is the precursor OF offspring
Man Is usually able to meet most Of
the changes IN his environment. He
partly modiies It. and his fellow-man is
a part of it. His laws are rules for his
civil conduct. He knows OF the past.
and he can contemplate the future be
ycnd the infancy Of his immediate or
spring He knows that the habit OF
wholesome thrift, when carried too far.
becomes injurious not only TO those IL
was intended 10 benefit, but also 20
others-and therein his reason should
rule.
Without adequate help. many ill-con-
ditionee children IN so-called homes are
doomed to miserable lives The well-to-
do OF the present day can make them
equal tc the best. and thereby also best
serve themselves. Man seeks mis- mate
Both should be aforementioned. Seen
t!fic methods have improved plants and
the lower animals. but man has been
left mainly TO chance.
The efficient and economical manage
ment OF corporate bodies. and particu-
larry OF the governments navy yards