New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-03-30
Us THE Kaiser's family tree respon-
sible? In other words, was it in
evitable that the law of heredity,

sipie. III QUIET WORDS, was IL IN
evitable that the law Of heredity,
working through successive genera
tions, should ultimately find expression
in being of the calibre and character
istics of Colts anointed?
In "The Journal of Heredity" this
ticular angle of kingly pedigrees by
Frederick Adams Woods, lecturer on
biology at the Massachusetts Institute
of Technology, who produces a great
deal of historical evidence to prove that
despots are largely the products of the
breeds of kings.
Mr.. Woods begins by referring to a
sensation which was caused throughout
the German Empire IN 1894 by the pub
LEGATION of small brochure, in which
the Kaiser, then fresh in his untried
power, was in yelled manner compared
to the horrible tyrant of the Roman
Empire, CaliguIa Caius Cesar. And
continuing, he says:
Now that subsequent events and the
great war have brought out the truth of
much of Guides grim forebodng, it is
interesting to reconsider the life and char
acteristics of this arch tyrant Of Rome, par
ticularly in relation to the inheritance of
mental and moral qualities as revealed by
study of the house Of Cesar, that extraor-
binary family to which Caligula belonged.
Caius Cesar, to give Caligula his true
name, making all allowances, was I'M
doubtedly one of the worst examples Of
royal tyranny, unchecked brutality, and
egotistical madness that the world has ever
seen. 1t is true that large portion Of
Tacitus dealing with this period is lost.
that Suetonius was a gossiper, and that,
aside from the dry narrative Of Dio, we
have comparatively little in the wav of ron.
temporary sources; but enough remains
to make it fairly certain that the accounta
about Caligula are substantially cor.
"Caligula, who, on his accession, was hut
twenty-five years old, began his reign very
promisingly and ruled in sensible man.
ner for about eight months, when a sud~
den sickness overcame him, and ever after.
ward his nature was changed. 1t is highly
probable that this disease was severe
form of epilepsy, a malady from which the
great Julius Caesar ia known to have suf-
fsred."
Referring to Nero, the writer declares,
Testimony remains Of such a nature
that historians are forced to retain the
we" that Nero was type of bestiality and
cruelty rarely exhibited among the worlds
sovereigns.
Here, then, Is our first argument in
favor OF the hereditary origin of the char
acseristies of Caligula. Many thousands Of
absolute rulers have existed in history. Only
very few Of these have been as deba.ed
~ either Caliguia or Nero, yet Calisula
ana Nero, two extreme examples, were a.
closely related as uncle ard nephew. Wa
only realize how close this relationship il
Nncn we remember that all the ancestor,
OF any mans uncle are also ancestors .,
MS own. In addition TO this il thu fact
s0as OF al women In history few. IL anv.
s sa snow a olaeker record thsn Agrippina
saS Younger sister Of Calixula and
mosher Of Nero Also the mother Of Cali
gus Agrippina the Elder, was, according
70 barins-Gonld, probably half insane II
- are 70 trust the rather condemnstorv
sseooy' she was subject to upcontrollsblc
nN u aueex' othsr members Of th. Fam
81 eons'dsssd By Dsrins-Gould TO hsvs
s. - inasSs sss Dsusua. he b,oths, d