Pagina 522 van 1391

The connexions formed between superior and inferior races hardly

ever produce a noble offspring, because they are licentious; and

because the children in such cases usually despise the mother and

are neglected by the father who is ashamed of them. Barbarous

nations when they are introduced by Europeans to vice die out;

polygamist peoples either import and adopt children from other

countries, or dwindle in numbers, or both. Dynasties and

aristocracies which have disregarded the laws of nature have

decreased in numbers and degenerated in stature; 'mariages de

convenance' leave their enfeebling stamp on the offspring of them

(King Lear). The marriage of near relations, or the marrying in

and in of the same family tends constantly to weakness or idiocy

in the children, sometimes assuming the form as they grow older

of passionate licentiousness. The common prostitute rarely has

any offspring.