CHARACTER AND CAREER

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXX, Issue 5383, 4 February 1929, Page 3

CHARACTER AND CAREER

PART PLAYED BY HEREDITY. WHAT WE OWE OUR ANCESTORSSomeone has said that it takes seven generations to makq a gentleman. It might be added that once the gentleman is produced he will forthwith proceed to transmit his characteristics, and bequeath to 'his descendants certain well-marked qualities of good or evil. Writers of biography generally begin with some account of a man’s ancestors for the obvious rqason that you cannot explain his peculiarities without referring, to : his mental and moral lineage.

Sir Francis Gallon’s “Hereditary Genius” showed how many famous men owed much to eminent ancestors, and how even relatives came to some extent under the operation of the

same law. It is a very interesting proceeding to. ascertain for how long ability in various connections really continues. Perhaps, it is equally interesting tQ learn what proportion of descendants were best and. second best, and whe-’ ther, in the case of the latter, and their inferiors in ability there was a distinct possession of something inuciy above the average. These are questions discussed after much careful investigation by W. T. J. Gun, F.I. Hist. S., in his volume on “Studies in* Heredity Ability.” His researches in genealogy have covered a wide area in British and American history, and have placed him in the position of being able to enunciate certain leading principles, some of. which are not a little surprising.

He affirmed that “it is an absolutely equal chance whether ability descends ■ through the paternal ’Cjr maternal line.” There is no warrant for the belief that a son is likely to derive more from his mother and a daughter from her father, if. the influence of the families predominate there is often a certain tendency to. ill-health. WIT AND WICKEDNESS. In 16 highly-entertaining; and en- % lightening chapters Mr, Gun proceeds to set forth the facts on which he ; bases his cpnclusions. The first bears the title “Wit and Wickedness,” and in careful detail how a certain John St. John, knight, and Lucy Hungerford, his wife, were the ancestors of d long line of descendants famous for brilliance and instability. One of Sir- John’s ancestors was, the Sir .Walter Blount, of Shakespeare’s Henry IV., and Luck Hungerford’s immediate ancestors were notoriously brutal,'and some of them were executed for murder. Among the descendants was Lord Rochester, one of the most shameless profligates of his,-, tory. Another is described as a man who ’’loved debauchery, but never allowed it to interfere with business.” The famous Lady Townsend was celebrated for her gallantries, her wit, and her eccentricity, and the best known of her sayings is still quoted < with gusto. Being asked if Whitefield, the Methodist, had recanted, she replied, “Nq, sir, he has only canted.” A marked' predilection for the opposite sex was united with conspicuous talents.. ■MODERN WRITERS. Turning to a different type Mr Gun points out that Lord Balfour and the late Lord Haldane, although prominent in intellect are far from being -alone in distinction. There is a remarkable similarity in their ancestries, distinguished as these were in almost every direction. Nearly every field of human endeavour has been represented in one or other of their groups of relatives. These are some cf tsp facts that -justify the enunciation of the principle that & scientist is most- likely to be produced bv a , gqod general heredity with varied ability among, connectiokis. Among modern writers reference is’ made to Thomas Arnold, second son of the headmaster of Rugby, who, when in Tasmania, married Julea Sorel, a person witX an ancestry very r different from his qwn. The marirage produced Mrs Humphrey Ward, who, inherited the true Arnold Strain. Her sister Julia married Leonard Huxley, son of the great scientist, and became the mother of Mr Aldous Huxley, one of tsp ablest of our writers of to*day. Since the early sixties one member or another of this remarkable connection has been continuously before the world. FROM HENRY HOPE.* When Madeline? of, France, came- to Scotland in 153? as the bride of ; King James V. a certain John Hope came over in her train; After her death he went into business, prospered, and was succeeded by»his son and grandson. The latter, named Henry Hope, married a French lady named Jacqueline de Toit, and from them descended Lord Rosebery, a Prime Minister *, < Lord Erskine, a Lord Chancellor; the I present Archbishop of Canterbury *, three Viceroys of India, Sir William Hamilton, the philosopher; Robert Louis Stevenson, and Thomas Cqutts, ( the famous banker. 1 (