h other and become mutually compensated in their general effect, so
that the two extremes are always represented by small numbers and the
average by large numbers. But, when certain special and greater forces
come into play, the general resultant is deviated in one direction or
the other.

Galton shows that this law applies to social relations and mental
values as well as to the stature of the body. In a given society there
are always some individuals who are very good, some very bad, and many
mediocrities. When a powerful general factor, such as alcohol or
corruption by money, lowers all the individual values, the total value
of the whole scale of capacities is lowered. Galton shows that the
average values can be appreciably raised by inducing the class of
higher values to reproduce themselves, and by preventing the lower
values from doing so.

Prof. Jules Amann has shown how the immigration of the Huguenots into
Switzerland and Germany after the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes by
Louis XIV (1685) contributed to raise the mental level in these
countries and continues to do so at the present day.

=Visions of the Past and Future.=--It is always sad to see capable,
hard-working men and women, very useful from the social point of view,
remaining sterile, simply on account of our social or religious
prejudices; whereas, for the benefit of the community, they ought to
marry as young as possible and procreate numerous children.

I have already said (the idea is found in Andre Couvreur's _La
Graine_) that, if the sterility of one of the conjoints in marriage
unfortunately leads to sterility in the other conjoint, the law, to
make good the loss, should allow bigamy or concubinage in favor of the
second, when the latter is very capable. I cannot dwell too strongly
on the necessity of compensating for the sterilization which is so
necessary with ill-formed or incapable beings, as well as for the
period of rest which is due to women between their confinements, by an
energetic multiplication of all useful and capable individuals.

In the same way, it is a real pity to see so many healthy, active and
intelligent girls become old maids, simply because they have no money
and do not wish to throw themselves at the first scamp who comes. It
would be far better to allow a little free polygamy, with complete
equality of the two sexes and certain legal precautions, than to lose
so much good seed and grow so many weeds. I refer the