The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-03-16
On. MILLER TELLS OF
LAWS OF AERED|TI


sUfenAsS w COAsCs
DR.. e. C. l. Miller. speaking on
"Eugenics and Hereditary Influences"
at the John ,Marshall High school
last night, said: That life was in
reality a great tapestry: beautiful
looking tapestry with its mixture OF
many threads-goIden thread, silver
threads, many OF lovely colors and
still some OF much rottenness." Re-
ferrfnE to the present conditions that
prevail pertaining to the knowledge
Of life, the speaker said. who are to
blamo for these deplorable condi-
lions? We are rightfully proud of our
ancestors and are always referring to
them In the greatest respect. This
land is a heritage and we owe It to
our ancestors, but who Is responsible
for the present conditions. for the
many diseases and for the peniten-
tiaries. the reform schools and insti-
buttons for the feeble-minded that dot
our land. It was our ancestors who
lived their own selfish lives and in
stead Of shouidering their duties,
showed them over to u.s."
DIR. Miifer's lecture, which was the
second Of series OF faculty lectures
being given by tho Medical College OF
Virginia. was a clear insight into the
workings of life: of the conditions
as they really are and OF the great
problems that face the present gen.
Grafton. A large and representative
audience was present to hear the i'm
portant lessons which these lectures
are undoubtedly teaching.
In his talk last night, DR.. Miller
used various charts to show the funda-
mental phenomena OF heredity. These
charts explaining the character , les
Of life during the different generations
proved unusually interesting. Stats
tics OF the improved conditions. local
with steady cooperation great results
can be obtained.
1--we In Narrow Circles.
In opening. DR.. Miller said: I'VE all
tend to live in too narrow circles; the
lawyer. doctor. minister, scientist. ann
others live In their own worlds. One
pays little attention to the business Of
the other. We are only interested In
the here and now. One great relief
to this would be some sort OF large
Clearing house" that all could gather
to discuss these subjects"
What will be the result 4 thousand
years from now II we do not halt
those parts Of our makeup that tend
TO lower the standard of the races.
The imperfect eyesight that IL becon-
ing so prevalent IL new thing. We
use the unnatural substitute OF specta-
cies not realizing the reasons back
OF the effect
Letting Affairs slide.
"As individuals. who are here only
for a while. we can perhaps, be ex-
cused for our negligence. but how
about the State that will continuec
We vrarny<, fA@4gm~ afFa4rm nf59a
The pious spirit OF our ancestors that
believed that whatever happened to
them was ordained bv the Lord Is in
a way eacreiixous. II men have &C.
complished perfect results In the rails
ing Of horses. dogs. fruits; OF the
elimination of yeliow-fever in Cuba
and OF the cutting of the Panama
Canal. and numerous otf1er facts OF
good, why can't we ask ourselves what
can he done with the racial condi-
tionS@
In Richmond. there 10 a part answer
TO this: malaria has been eradica'"d
from the death list; typhoid death
rate has decreased TO 1-s Of what II
was fifteen years ago. while penu-
monia IL only fatal to ia OF the
number It was decade ago.
When ieprosy is discovered or some
cattle disease appears. there is a
solution or the prooiem immediateiy.
The brain for the solving OF all such
is plentiful. what we need IL intelh-
gent cooperation and financial sup
port. We are beginning to under
stand much about the fundamental
workings of feredity. And with
clear understanding of these i'm
portant matters, we can bequeath TO
our descendants, a wonderful world
free from all OF these dreaded dis
eases that are now so closely con-
nected with our lives --
II Is Of unlimited Importance that
we should have reRard for the well
fare OF the future: The burden is upon
us. We honor our ancestors who
fought for our independence. and who
IN a way succeeded. For their mis-
take, they are partly excusable due
TO ignorance and their different be-
liefs: but with us. we sac our'probiems
and 1--we in a great country. The dues-
ton Is: what are we going to do
with our golden opportunity"