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332
Hereditary Genius
well-fed classes. In the notes I made, previous to writing this book, I
had begun to make memoranda of the physical gifts of my heroes,
and regret now, that I did not continue the plan, but there is even
almost enough printed in the Appendices to warrant my assertion. I
do not deny that many men of extraordinary mental gifts have had
wretched constitutions, but deny them to be an essential or even the
usual accompaniment. University facts are as good as any others to
serve as examples, so I will mention that both high wranglers and
high classics have been frequently the first oarsmen of their years.
The Hon. George Denman, who was senior classic in 1842, was the
stroke of the University crew. Sir William Thompson, the second
wrangler in 1845, won the sculls. In the very first boat-race between
the two Universities, three men who afterwards became bishops
rowed in one of the contending boats, and another rowed in the other.
It is the second and third-rate students who are usually weakly. A
collection of living magnates in various branches of intellectual
achievement is always a feast to my eyes; being, as they are, such
massive, vigorous, capable-looking animals.
I took some pains to investigate the law of mortality in the different
groups, and drew illustrative curves in order to see whether there
was anything abnormal in the constitutions of eminent men, and this
result certainly came out, which goes far to show that the gifted men
consist of two categories—the very weak and the very strong. It
was, that the curve of mortality does not make a single bend, but it
rises to a minor culminating point, and then, descending again, takes a
fresh departure for its principal arc. There is a want of continuity in
the regularity of its sweep. I conclude that among the gifted men,
there is a small class who have weak and excitable constitutions, who
are destined to early death, but that the remainder consists of men
likely to enjoy a vigorous old age.
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