oul is by that same law of
evolution slowly changed through many incarnations from the chaos of
savage instincts to the law and order of the moral world. Each
incarnation yields some improvement. As the seed sprouts within the
darkness of the soil and, perishing there, attains its full results in
the higher realm of sun and air, drawing from the soil that which,
stored within the grain, gives power to reproduce its better self, so
the soul strikes anchorage in the lower planes and draws from its varied
experiences that which, transmuted after the body's death, gives the
power to return with greater life.

Attempts have been made to find some explanation of the mental and moral
inequalities that exist at birth. In the earlier days of the study of
evolution it was usually asserted that the human being inherits his
mentality and morality from his parents. But even if that were true the
injustice of one being born a genius and another a fool would remain. It
is the fact of inequality that constitutes the injustice, and it is of
no importance whether it comes about through heredity or otherwise. But
as a matter of fact heredity is confined to the physical side of
existence. As more and more is learned by observation the old theory of
mental and moral heredity has lost ground until it can be said that it
now has no recognition in the scientific world. Nobody is better
qualified to speak upon the subject than those with practical
experience. Dr. A. Ritter, of the Stanford University Children's Clinic,
that has large numbers of defective children in charge, treating no less
than sixteen hundred in a single year, says:

"As to the definite causes of the prevalence of defective
types, I cannot speak with finality or assurance. I do not
agree with social or educational doctrinaires who assign
the causes definitely to liquor, poverty, infectious
diseases, or other social or moral shortcomings. The
greatest minds of the world are hesitant in theorizing
about this. There are a complex of causes which explain
many of these cases, but no generalization fits absolutely.
We may find a case which is not traceable to any of these
conditions--_a case in which the antecedents would promise
a perfectly normal child, and yet we are confronted with a
defective child_. On the other hand, bright, normal
children, even children of superior intelligence sometimes