Science: Distaff Succession

The world is used to heroes illustriously sired. "A chip of the old block," folk say of Pitt, the son of Pitt, of Dumas fils, of the young Adams, the young Hammond, the young Rockefeller. "Just like his father, only more so," said the ancients when Philip's son, Alexander, became tearful with success. But who was Cleopatra's daughter? What heroine did Dido mother? Joan of Arc, Queen Bess, Florence Nightingale, Jane Addams are all ineligible by hypothesis; and it is not recorded that Sarah Bernhardt had a daughter. But what of Portia...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!