Now the basis that all this hope rests upon is the belief that it is a
law of heredity that acquired characteristics are handed down; and,
let it be observed, that whereas this theory found, not many decades
ago, under the influence of Darwin, thousands of adherents among
scientific men, it finds to-day only here and there an adherent.

But let that pass, for we have to consider here, not only whether
acquired characteristics are handed down, but further whether, "if we
held that doctrine true," it would furnish scientific basis for the
belief that educational advantages carried on from generation to
generation would level up woman's intellect to man's; and whether, as
the suffragist also believes, the narrow education of past generations
of women can be held responsible for their present intellectual
shortcomings.

A moment's consideration will show--for we may here fix our eyes only
on the future--that woman could not hope to advance relatively to man
except upon the condition that the acquired characteristics of woman,
instead of being handed down equally to her male and female
descendants, were accumulated upon her daughters.

Now if that be a law of heredity, it is a law which is as yet unheard
of outside the sphere of the woman suffrage societies. Moreover, one
is accustomed to hear women, when they are not arguing on the
suffrage, allege that clever mothers make clever sons.

It must, as it will have come home to us, be clear to every thoughtful
mind that woman's belief that she will, through education and the
cumulation of its effects upon her through generations, become a more
glorious being, rests, not upon any rational basis, but only on the