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TABLE III.
Percentage Of Eminent Men In Each Degree Of Kinship To The Most
Gifted Member Of Distinguished Families.
1/2 Great-grandfathers.
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7 1/2 Grandfathers. 1/2 Great-uncles
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26 Fathers. 4 1/2 Uncles.
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The 100 most eminent members of 23 BROTHERS. 1 1/2 First cousins.
100 distinguished families. |
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36 SONS. 4 3/4 Nephews.
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9 1/2 Grandsons 2 Great-nephews.
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1 1/2 Great-grandsons.
It will be observed that Table III. refers only to distinguished families. If
we modified it to correspond with column E of Table II., in which all the
Judges, whether they have distinguished relations or no, are considered, the
proportion between the eminent kinsmen in each different degree would be
unchanged, though their absolute numbers would be reduced to about one-
third of their value.
Table III. shows in the most unmistakeable manner the enormous odds
that a near kinsman has over one that is remote, in the chance of inheriting
ability. Speaking roughly, the percentages are quartered at each successive
remove, whether by descent or collaterally. Thus in the first degree of
kinship the percentage is about 28; in the second, about 7; and in the third,
1.5.
The table also testifies to another fact, in which people do not commonly
believe. It shows that when we regard the averages of many instances, the
frequent sports of nature in producing prodigies must be regarded as
apparent, and not as real. Ability, in the long run, does not
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