Speaking for myself only, I look forward to local eugenic action in
numerous directions, of which I will now specify one. It is the
accumulation of considerable funds to start young couples of “worthy”
qualities in their married life, and to assist them and their families
at critical times. The gifts to those who are the reverse of “worthy”
are enormous in amount; it is stated that the charitable donations or
bequests in the year 1907 amounted to 4,868,050_l._ I am not prepared to
say how much of this was judiciously spent, or in what ways, but merely
quote the figures to justify the inference that many of the thousands of
persons who are willing to give freely at the prompting of a sentiment
based upon compassion might be persuaded to give largely also in
response to the more virile desire of promoting the natural gifts and
the national efficiency of future generations.
Footnotes
Footnote 1:
The second Huxley Lecture of the Anthropological Institute, delivered
by Francis Galton, D.C.L., D.Sc., F.R.S., on October 29, 1901.
Footnote 2:
The 80 charitable bequests of and exceeding £9000, made in 1808 alone,
amounted to more than 3–1/2 millions of pounds. (Whitaker’s Almanack
to 1909, p. 433).
“It being far more humane to _prevent_ suffering than to _alleviate_
it after it has occurred, why will not charitably disposed persons
leave substantial sums of money to the furtherance of Eugenic Study
and practice, and of popularising the result? The money would be well
bestowed.” _Francis Galton, 1909._
I learn on high legal authority that the form of bequest which would
be most appropriate in present circumstances, and be free from the
pit-falls that lie in the way of charitable bequests, is “I bequeath
to my trusted friend A.B., of ....., absolutely, the sum of £...... in
the hope and confidence that he will apply the same in furtherance of
Eugenic Study and practice, but without imposing on him any trust or
legal obligation so to do.” F.G.
Footnote 3:
Read before the Sociological Society at a Meeting in the School of
Economics and Political Science (London University), on May 16th,
1904. Professor KARL PEARSON, F.R.S., in the chair.
Footnote 4:
Read before the Sociological Society, on Tuesday, February 14th, at a
meeting in the School of Economics and Political Science (University
of London), Clare Market, W.C., Dr. E. WESTERMARCK in the Chair.
Footnote 5:
Communicated at a meeting of the Sociological Society held in the
School of Economics and Political Science (University of London),
Clare Market, W.C., on Tuesday, February 14th, at 4 p.m.
Footnote 6:
The Herbert Spencer Lecture delivered before the University at Oxford,
June 5th, 1907.
Footnote 7:
Dent’s “Everyman’s Library,” price One Shilling.
Footnote 8:
Address to a meeting of the Eugenics Education Society at the Grafton
Galleries, on October 14th, 1908.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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