[page number] 5. [end page number] Blood tells. Heredity is an ascertained factor in human life. Blood tells. It forever tells its story of shame or beauty, whether it flows in plants or animals, in the veins of beggars, poets or kings. We all realize that to be true in plants or animals, but when it comes to the human family we either ignore it or feel we that we have a perfect right to expect wisdom from a family of fools. We cannot change the nature of a fool by changing his environment. Environment has its place but we are born, not made and it is silly to irrigate weeds. Heredity alone can affect capacity. You cant change the nature of a crab apple by cultivation and fertilization. You must graft new life into it. All the exercise in the world cant make a short man tall. Many still believe that education, moral teaching, medical science and good environment generally will transform natural weakness into strength, folly into wisdom, and put brains into empty heads. It cannot be done that way. There are types like Caliban of whom Prosper said, "A devil, a born devil, on whose nature, nurture will never stick." Wiggam gives this fine illustration. Smith purchased a fine female setter puppy for $150.oo. It grew as puppies will. One day Smith entered the library where the pup was lying asleep. He scratched a match which happened to go off like a pistol. The dog with a yell made one leap over the library table, smashing a handsome lamp. The next leap she went through the window carrying the sash and shutter into the yard. From there she made a wild dash to the rear of the house and crawled up under the floor as far as her poor frightened body could wriggle. There she stayed for four days and nights without food or water in spite of all coaxings and threats of punishment. "A gun-shy pup" exclaimed Smith in disgust. "But I shall get my money back