Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-02-23
CHAPTER "
Heredity and Environment

We fatter ourselves that we know
ourselves rather well. On top Of that
we are pretty unanimous in considering
ourselves extremely estimable individ
uals. From which it is amply clear
that either the world is populated BY
a race entirely excellent or that. after
all. we don't know as much about our
selves as we think we do.
Robert Ashe knew as much of him
self, in way, as most people. Perhaps
more, since he was much given to
thoughtful moods and was at times
keenly introspective, always observant.
There follows an epitomG of Robert
Ashes knowledge and understanding Of
Robert Ashe:
He had been born in San Francisco,
in the district known opprobriously as
south of Market, shade more than
twenty years ago. His father had died
perhaps couple of years after little
Roberts birth. His mother, n frail,
pretty woman whom the boy rcmem.
bered rather as a weary. hcartsick angel
than as resembling any other woman
he had ever known, died when he was
just planning upon the great adventure
of first day at school. She had told
him stories about Tom Thumb, Cinder-
ella, Santa Claus and God. She had
room and, hushing his ecstasy to gasps
and whispers, had shown him very Won
dorful pictures. Then one day never to
be forgotten, the little boy watched a
peculiar, grandly beautiful carriage
drive from the door with two men in
black upon tho scat and had stared
after them through the 1clting rain
wonderingly. his thoughts filled with
stories Of fairy godmOthers and royal
eQuipages made magicaly from pump
kins.
He had run into the house to tell
his mamma. The hardworking, hard
ship hardened Italian woman with
whom he and Mrs. Ashe had long lodged
was little nervous and quite httle
drunk. She had laughed at the boys
litter from getting under her feet, and
had told Robert that his mother was
dead. He knew what the word meant.
He had once found sparrow, cold
and wet in the gutter, and had come
running in with 1t for mamma to warm
it and make it wake up. The sparrow
had never awakened. Now his mamma
MAS like that. The single word,
Dead" clung with him long after
ward, heavy and oppressive upon him
like Il black breathless night.
The ltallan woman had accepted MIN
as she accepted whatever came into her
stolid life. quite as matter Of fact. His
mother had perhaps left Robert behi ind
her in lieu OF the last couple of months
rent. He was put to work selling news :,
papers at the ferry upon the day school
was opening for other boys and girls
This was to be his school. The bright
five-cent pieces he carried home with
him were the first bright things in his
life after the death of his mother.
In spite Of the wretched cards put
into his baby fingers for the beginning
of the game of life he was bright
eyed, bright hearted, normal boy.
Though he knew nothing of such things
there were two strong contendins
factors eternally at his elbow directing
each play. There was Heredity, backed
by six years of training by cultured
woman; there was Environment. The
two in their compromise came in time
to make the Robert Ashc who deftly
opened Hamilton Hamilton's safe.
Hercdity gave him, to begin with, a
fine. handsome body and a sound brain.
Environment trained the two OF them.
Each had its part in the development
of an unusually keen memory.
CONTINUED TOMORROW