The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1855-09-06
PARENTAL CONSTITUTION.

the bes: constitution. AS these appearances
very frequently depend upon plethora, we
have the reason why so large proportion OF
fiue healthy looking persons die during the
prevalence of severe epidemcs. Women
with such constitutions, though we'll and
healthy looking, have usually but few chll.
dren, ard they are of an inferior quality.
On the other hand very many feeble and
infirm women have many fresh and rosy
looking children, but their appearance is de-
ceptive-heir condition is one oil obesity-a
constiiu iional weakness of the vital forces
which has been entailed upon them.
The rich or those who live high, are too
ple:horic 10 be fruitful, and hence such peo-
pie have usually few children. The poorer
classes, OF those who have enongh, such as
it is, consisting mostly of vegetables, are
much more prolific, and the children have
the bes, promise of health and longevity
But the most prolific women, for the time
being, are those who are labolng under some
slow, chronic, but certainly false disease, as
consumption. This appears TO be- law Of
the vegetable and animal Kingdoms, that in
proportion 10 the danger Of the species be-
coming extinct, 80 far as the individuals are
concerned, is the increase of fecundily.-
Fruit ltees, so battered and bruised that they
must die in year or so, are certain TO have
full crop Of fruit before they die.
Women thus circumslanced should not
marry, and if after marriage they should be-
come SO, they should cease TO become moth
ers.
The amount Of disease and premature death
that is entailed upon society by marriage OF
unhealthy persons, is such as 10 demand, on
the part Of society, the enactment of some
protective ordinance. If the consequences
were confined TO the parties themselves, or
even TO their children, the evil would be COM
paratively small but the multiplication of it
is so rapid, that in few generations, very
large extent of county becomes similarly af-
ficted. Because man or woman has nc :
quired predispositon 10 consumption or
some other form Of disease, il does not follow
that the privilege should exist 10 entail it on
others.
There is scarcely an individual in society
who has not Witnessed the deplorable conse-
quences Of the marriage of those who have
eniailed upon them predspositon to con-
sumption, to insanity, to apoplexy, ETC.; then
what should we think OF hose who, knowing
themselves, BY what They know of their an
cestors, TO exist with such predisposilions,
place themselves in such situation as 10
visit the mischief upon unborn hundreds,
perhaps thousands We must conclrde that
they have never seriously thought upon the
subject, or else, that they are superatively
selfish or inexcusably dishonest.
There has become broadcast in our coun-
try, predispositon more mischievons than
consumption, insanity, or any form of disease
that now occurs 10 US, though not suddenly
and speedily fatal-it is iniemperance in the
use Of ardent spirits. A drunkard is almost
sure 10 be the grandfather of drunkards,
through the female part OF his children, and
it is probable that he may be The father ol
them.
A practical phrenologist rarely fails 10 de.
tect this predisposilion. Indeed, it may be
truly said, that all predisposilions 10 disease,
as well as 10 crime or moral depravity, are
advertised upon the outside of The head.
All predispositions may be removed by
appropriate physical and mental education,
and by iudicious marriage alliances bul
who is TO direct these All that we can do
is 10 announce their existence, and to admon.
ish all young people against forming an alli'
ance with them.
There is yet another predispositon, which
has hitherto, SO far as we know, entirely es.
capped the, notice of Psychologists, and yet il
is one which should avoid, in m arriage al
liarce, and every one would avoid il who en-
te:iains ambitious hopes ofhis children, il he
knew IT. We all ude to those women who
very closely resemble their mother, and in
consequence of this entail upon them, they
will entail their own LIKENESS and cons,itu.
ton upon their daughters, and those OF their
husbands upon their sons. Such children
never equal their parents respectively
fact indicates that the work of degeneracy is
in progress, and if continued will result in
physical infirmi,y and mental imbeciIty.-
To this law there is possibly an exception in
the sanguine temperament.
The Arahians seem 10 have understood this
long since-lhey maintain that the blood in
any species of animals is transmitted through
the female; hence they will cheehully sell
their stations TO foreigners, but not their
Mares
AS very general law with all classes and
species Of animals, man included, males in
herit through their mother, and females
through the father. Daughters, though in
heriting the mental peculiarties Of a father,
may never manifest them, because Of their
more restrained position in society, but her
sons will. The character of the sons may
be inferred from that OF the maternal grand
fathers.
These rules are always applicable, except
when the elements of both parents are blend
II -. a. Il. - =. E.. Al