ean a mutation in a profitable direction, a
getting away from the average of mediocrity in the direction of
improvement.

It is clear that we have the raw materials for race improvement. There
are some individuals with more and some with less than the average in
any respect--physical, mental, moral. The average of a whole social
group can be shifted by subtraction at one end or addition at the
other, or more easily and more effectively by both together. In order
to raise the general average of the value of any of these traits it
is not necessary to strive to exceed the known maximum value in any
respect. The study of the "pure line," as mentioned above, shows that
this may for a long time remain impossible, or at any rate difficult,
pending the appearance of a mutation in a favorable direction. We can,
however, raise the general average of physical strength or of mental
or moral ability by increasing the relative number of individuals in
the upper groups or by diminishing the number in the lower groups,
most easily of course and most effectively by doing both of these
things. By increasing the numbers composing the lines which form the
upper elements of a social group we not only add immensely to the
total value of the group but we do actually change somewhat the
general average. On the other hand numerical increase in the lines in
the lower part of the group will actually lower the average of the
whole, though it does not actually affect the number of individuals in
the more able and valuable classes.

Another consideration is of great importance here. The average is
affected only slightly by the change of individuals from class to
class near the average. But the shifting of even one or two per cent
of the individuals into or out of extreme positions has a very marked
effect upon the character of the total group and upon the average. In
the life of the State the character of the general average of the
citizens is of the greatest importance, and comparatively small
deviations in the average of civic worth may mean much as regards the
history of a democracy. Of course the average individuals in a social
group may not be those of greatest influence; even when taken all
together they may not determine the trend of the life of the society;
but that does not alter the essential fact that the condition of the
average of the population is of very great moment to a democratic
state.

Many of our social endeavors to-day serv