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Hereditary Genius
25
historical specimens of our race. It was a process that constantly recalled
to me a once familiar sentiment in bygone days of African travel, when I
used to take altitudes of the huge cliffs that domineered above me as I
travelled along their bases, or to map the mountainous landmarks of
unvisited tribes, that loomed in faint grandeur beyond my actual horizon.
I have not cared to occupy myself much with people whose gifts are
below the average, but they would be an interesting study. The number of
idiots and imbeciles among the twenty million inhabitants of England and
Wales is approximately estimated at 50, 000, or as I in 400. Dr. Seguin, a
great French authority on these matters, states that more than thirty per
cent of idiots and imbeciles, put under suitable instruction, have been taught
to conform to social and moral law, and rendered capable of order, of good
feeling, and of working like the third of an average man. He says that
more than forty per cent. have become capable of the ordinary transactions
of life, under friendly control; of understanding moral and social
abstractions, and of working like two-thirds of a man. And, lastly, that from
twenty-five to thirty per cent. come nearer and nearer to the standard of
manhood, till some of them will defy the scrutiny of good judges, when
compared with ordinary young men and women. In the order next above
idiots and imbeciles are a large number of milder cases scattered among
private families and kept out of sight, the existence of whom is, however,
well known to relatives and friends; they are too silly to take a part in
general society, but are easily amused with some trivial, harmless
occupation. Then comes a class of whom the Lord Dundreary of the
famous play may be considered a representative; and so, proceeding
through successive grades, we gradually ascend to mediocrity. I know two
good instances of hereditary silliness short of imbecility,
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