Fig. 15.—Height is one of the stock examples of a continuous character—one of which all grades can be found. As will be seen from the above diagram, every height from considerably under five feet to considerably over six feet can be found in the army, but extreme deviations are relatively rare in proportion to the amount of deviation. The vertical columns represent the total number of individuals of a given height in inches. From Davenport.
If a group of soldiers be measured as the children were measured
for arithmetical ability, their height will be distributed in this same
curve of probability. Fig. 14 shows the cadets of Connecticut Agricultural
College; it is obvious that a line drawn along the tops of the files
would again make the step-pyramid shown in Figures 10, 11 and 13. If a
larger number were taken, the steps would disappear and give place to a
smooth curve; the fact is well shown in a graph for the heights of recruits
to the American Army (Fig. 15).
The investigation in this direction need not be pursued any farther. For
the purpose of eugenics, it is sufficient to recognize that great differences
exist between men, and women, not only in respect of physical traits, but
equally in respect of mental ability.
This conclusion might easily have been reached from a study of the facts
in Chapter I, but it seemed worth while to take time to present the fact
in a more concrete form as the result of actual measurements. The evidence
allows no doubt about the existence of considerable mental and physical
differences between men.
The question naturally arises, "What is the cause of these differences?"
The
study of twins showed that the differences could not be due to differences
in training or home surroundings. If the reader will think back over the
facts set forth in the first chapter, he will see clearly that the fundamental
differences in men can not be due to anything that happens after they are
born; and the facts presented in the second chapter showed that these differences
can not be due in an important degree to any influences acting on the child
prior to birth.
