Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-12-15

Amherst OFT lectured IN city ns4A
Tuesday evening 10 a full house The
lecture he delivered Is famous one
one. in fact. which he has delivered 10
the pleasure Of million people. not
including the several hundred VINO
heard him Tuesday evening His audi
encs vas a remarkable one in that il
was, first. a remarkable audience II Il
self composed Of the representative
citizens Of the Capitol City; second
an audience which followed lecture,
technical in its theme. with quiet IN
terest from start 10 finish: third II
that j. was SO fully controlled py the
po.se Of the speaker that II did nol
fail 70 absorb his serious philosophy
nor neglect 10 break into ripples o.
laughter ever now and then when DR.
OFT served them q little Of the sauce
Of hurnor with their mental meal.
The lecture was full Of the meat OF
such philosophy as American comrnu-
mites need For instance Dr.. OFT &C.
clared that American municipalities
are sane in almost everything except
their suusemeats. All the serious en-
beavers Of life are well guarded TO
keep out that which does noc make for
the best: but the amusements Of life
which every active soul demands are
carelessly managed. seldom controlled
and allowed 20 fall At times into the
administrative hands Of men and
women not only wholly unfit for the
task Of amusing and providing aH.use-
ment but we'll fitted 10 corrupt and de-
spoil the erstwhile wholesome Youth
q the country. Again. ne plead for
q democracy Of education which will
f, each youth for the part n life he
Is peculiarly fitted 20 act, an educa-
t.oaaI system which will not endeavor
70 make lawyers OF men who should
BE- musicians and musicians o. men Or
women who should fl themselves for
the occupations OF the schoolroom or
some other as different vocation.
DR.. OTIS lecture entitled Sour
Grapes. was q broad discussion OF
heredity and eugenics; he was logical,
scientific. authoritative and convincing
in consequence OF the strength u the
tundaments OF his simple philosophy.
His orato-y was eloquent. finished.
dynamic. possessed OF careful po.se,
and magnetic in consequence Of the
high art ard remarkably pleasing voice
which combined 20 render his express
sion most delightful, easy in manner
and most powerful in drawing the
Concentrated attention Of his audience
and the deep interest Of its individuals
Because ot his frank declarations,
in no instance marred by the tirnidity
IT z sophist, one could not but feel his
sincerity. and no matter row little one
might sympataize with his opinions
one could not but believe that in ali his
augmentation Re approached close 10
basic facts. for he seemed not 50 much
20 force upon his audience his oTn sUli-
tary thought but the weight of wisdom
Of all time purified ard corrected and
placed In a delicate mental balance IF
which he himself composed but the
pivot.
Reredity is no new fad OF his max
ing, he assured his listeners. nor is
eugerics 2 theme Of modern minds
alone: for at Least 900 years these
fundamental influences OF personality
have been much discussed topics.
Heredi-y, ne declared. is not only the
most interesting thing in life, but it is
LIE itself.
Hered.ty. Dr.. OFT urges. is a basic
law uf the animals below man; il IS
the most far-reaching influence that
governs the character Of horses. cattle
and such animals: it is ever the Law
Of human kind. L gives world life
stability. ~ which variation is applied
in order that stability may not oveTdo
itself and become fixed uniformity. One
great blessing 70 the world, DR. Oft
believes, is the condition which insEres
that We never have more than one man
% kind on earth.
His audience began to 90 along with
him like. & group Of his associate SCI
entifc investigators when he came TO
his Illuminated exposition Of scientist
Of the type Of Burbanl, who aid Ma
ture 10 evolve edible and de!ectable
fruits from growing things once all
but dcspised. Heredity is not always
a blessing. however. DR.. OFT points
out, for II sometimes improves its pro-
duct like the skillful horticulturalist
and sometimes reve-ses the better ord
er and produces a degenerate. a thing
far less commemorate than the parent
source. America with its unexcelled
economic conditions, America which
has never had q real famine, has a.
blot on its record in the statistical
story Of its humanity: For every 100
children born, one is an absolute fail
ure at the time of birth. Out Of every
1850 in factory towns. 3s5 oie before the
age of two years. and Of all the chill
dren born in the United States, $50 Of
every 1000 die before the age of five.
And yet. we are the smartest people in
the world
He touched every part Of society
which bears heavily upon the subject
OF heredity. He told Of epidemics OF
typhoid and other diseases which had
taken heavy toll from certain COM
munities before the citizens had come