attempt to prove that children resemble their parents, in anatomical formation and mental predisposition, or that such resemblances are governed by causation, is like attempting to prove that a part is less than the whole, or any other axiom; because this conclusion is irresistibly THRUST upon us by every comparison of children with their parents. All SEE, FEEL, and KNOW this universal truth.

Nor this merely, but EVERY constitutional quality of off. spring, mental and physical, has its procuring cause in simi. lar qualities in parentage; and by converse, all the CONSTITUTIONAL predispositions of parents are transmitted to their offspring. If causation governs this resemblance in part, it governs all. The WHOLE OR NOTHING is nature's universal motto P 17 7; so that, since children inherit SOME of the peculiarities of their parents, they of course inherit ALL the constitutional characteristics of parentage, mental and physical. Either NO causation governs this matter, or else the most minute constitutional peculiarities of children are caused by similar elements in their parents. Then let parents learn and remember that their prospective children will be the very images of themselves, reflected in all their shades of feeling and phases of character; inheriting similar tastes, swayed by similar passions, governed by kindred sentiments; debased by the same vices, ennobled by like virtues; adorned by kindred charms and graces, and endowed with similar moral powers and intellectual capabilities with themselves-that they are "bone of your bone, and flesh of your flesh," mind and soul of your mind and soul; great, or good, or bad, according as you are great, good, or bad; and happy or miserable as you enjoy or suffer. To the elucidation of this great truth and its momentous bearing on human happiness, this work is devoted.

305. THESE CAUSES WITHIN HUMAN CONTROL.

Nor are these hereditary causes and effects hid under a bushel, or beyond human control. They are exposed to full view. Parents can compare-cannot well HELP comparing— their children with themselves, and drawing these hereditary

inferences. Men study and apply these principles in planting seeds, selecting soils, and improving their breeds of domestic animals. They know how, by such application, to secure fleetness, strength, beauty, and other qualities in horses; fattening properties in swine, fine-wooled sheep, game and fattening predispositions in fowls, and the like. So fully do they understand, and so effectually apply these laws, that they can predict with certainty beforehand, whether the prospective foal is to be a mule or a race horse, the lamb black or white, the calf Durham or any other breed. Now since those same laws which govern transmission throughout the brute creation also govern human transmission throughout all its phases 304, he can of course ascertain and apply them to the production of whatever physical or mental qualities, in offspring, he may desire-can render his prospective children strong, healthy, sprightly, beautiful, intelligent, moral, and the like, as he may choose-can render them amiable or revengeful, proud or humble, coarse or refined, mathematical, mechanical, benevolent, reflective, or whatever else he pleases, or all combined-and that BY CONSTITUTION "DYED IN THE WOOL"-and even predict their respective characteristics before they see the light. Parents can so unite in marriage as to render their offspring short or tall, diseased or healthy, deformed or well formed, long lived or short lived, peaceful or pugnacious, timid or courageous, honest or unjust, ingenious, musical, witty, acquisitive, communicative, poetical, logical, oratorical, profound, or whatever else may be desired. Those who doubt this in the main, virtually deny either that laws govern this matter of transmission, or else that man can see and apply them; to dispute either of which is to deny our

senses.

306. BENEFITS OF SUCH APPLICATION.

Nay more. He can derive immense ADVANTAGES from such application. All know how much the breed of stock has been improved by this application. Men have profitably expended thousands of dollars for a Durham calf, and that farmer who neglects his seed or stock, is left behind.

BENEFITS OF SUCH APPLICATION.

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But those advantages capable of being derived from apply. ing these principles to HUMAN improvement, as far exceed these, as man excels the brute, as his faculties are more varied and positive than theirs. If he can derive benefits from improving his stock, how much greater by improving his CHILDREN—as much as human capability and destiny excel those of brutes. Animal improvability is confined to a few elements, and those mostly physical; the human scale not only embraces a far greater number and variety of physical excellencies, but adds to them a vast range of intellectual powers and moral capabilities and virtues. As from two or three simples but few compounds can be made up, and as every additional simple greatly augments the number and variety of producible compounds, till the variations capable of being formed by the twenty-six letters of the alphabet require forty-one figures to express-a number altogether inconceivable-so the far greater number of man's mental faculties, especially when taken in conjunction with his physiological elements, allow a proportionably greater number of changes to be wrung on humanity, every one of which can be an IMPROVEMENT. Not that all these improvements can be combined in one person, but effected ON THE RACE. Yet very many of them can be blended in every single subject of humanity. Many of the organs can be thus improved in every individual, and every improved organ improves all its combinations, which amount to MILLIONS, and also descend to posterity.

Behold, O parents! the blessed star of promise thus held out to you by this principle. Can you see fruit like this within your grasp and not pluck it—especially when it is as easily plucked as those sour grapes which many compel themselves to eat through life? The destinies of your DEAR PROSPECTIVE CHILDREN are thus placed completely within your control. Nay, willing or unwilling, you are COMPELLED to wield them, or else not to become parents. A NECESSITY exists. Your children are OBLIGED to be what you are, and cannot help themselves. O! can you contemplate these prospective children, and remember that their destinies are completely at you

mercy that you cannot possibly ESCAPE these solemn responsibilities—and yet sleep on over these momentous consequences? Will you not gladly learn WHAT parental conditions in you will render them the most perfect and happy, and you in them, and also strive to fulfil them? Then study and apply those laws and facts thrust by God upon your perpetual cognizance, and imperfectly set forth in this volume and its successor, "Parentage."

SECTION II.

THE PHYSICAL QUALITIES OF RACES AND NATIONS TRANSMITTED.

307. THE HUMAN ANATOMY AND PHYSIOGNOMY HEREDITARY.

THE hieroglyphics and likenesses handed down to us from past ages, show that man still retains the general form and features which he has always possessed—that he has always been endowed with his present upright posture and general aspect and mien-has always possessed the same form and position of head, nose, eyes, cheeks, mouth, chin, hair, arms, feet, and general physiognomy and anatomy now found in all mankind. To attempt to prove this would be superfluous, because all admit it. Yet this admission presupposes the TRANSMISSION from our first parents of these and all our other physical organs and functions. What but transmission, governed by uniform laws, could have secured a sameness so vast in duration, so perfect in detail, and so infinite in application? And this same law also assures us that these characteristics will be handed down as long and as universally as the race exists thus effectually establishing this fundamental principle and fact of the existence of transmission, and its government by law.

308. THE COLORED RACE.

Though all mankind have always had, and always will have, mouths, eyes, ears, brains, lungs, stomachs, bones, muscles, and the like; yet this hereditary law groups all human

THE COLORED RACE.

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beings into races, all the members of which are characterized by well-defined physical peculiarities, which contra-distinguish every individual of each race from every one of all the others; and all these peculiarities are of course hereditary. Of this the well-known characteristics of the Africans, as seen in every one of this race, and represented in the accompanying engraving of a native of Africa, furnish unequivocal examples.

Thus, the color of this race is unquestionably hereditary, and appertains to every individual, and even all their crosses, in proportion to the amount of their African parentage. Of this not a rational doubt can exist. Their mode of moving, carriage in walking, tones of voice, manner of laughing, form of nose and mouth, color of eyes and teeth, and other peculiarities, are BORN IN them, and form a part of them. In all ages and climes, all the members of this race have borne these marks of their origin. Their peculiarities. also become less and still less apparent, the less colored lineage they possess; yet all are tinctured with them, as well as evince pretty nearly how much African parentage they inherit.

Another mark of African descent is this. All pure-blooded Caucasians have a division or furrow in the gristle of the nose, plainly discerned by touch, while both Africans and all mulattoes have no such separation-a peculiarity in each race of course hereditary. Their muscles are also inserted at points of their bones slightly differing from those of Cauca