The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1882-07-06

especially II they are brought up togeth-
er. This sentiment they probably derive
in a large measure from their Roman
ancestors. The ties of blood and of afin-
ity were held very sacred among them.
The right of adoption also, which was
quite frequent and very solemn among
them, conferred rights and duties which
it was held impious to disregard. In
deed the word impiety among the 70
mans meant not only irreverence towards
the gods, but any gross wrongs to those
whose relation should nave kept them
sacredly secure from injury. The Greeks
also had a vivid sense of the claims of
kinship, but their of displaying
it was in some respects strikingly differ
emit. The Romans had a great aversion
to marriages between those closely re-
lated by blood, and when the Emperor
Claudius married his niece, Agrippina
the younger, his example was followed
by but n Roman at the time, and by
none subsequently. The Greeks, on the
other hand, in some circumstances en-
courage such marriages. One finds in
the Phormio of Terence, which is a pict-
ure of Greek and not Roman manners,
that, when an ingenua Attica civis was
left a destitute orphan it was the duty of
the nearest male relative to provide for
her if able to do so, or to espouse her.
This humane requirement of the law, or
at least intended as such, included even
the paternal half brother, but with the
maternal, marriages were prohibited.
At Sparta it appears it was the re-
verse. These regulations probably sought
by different means to effect the same
purpose to prevent the accumulation of
inheritances upon the same person, so
contrary was it thought to the true in
terests of a republic. At Athens it was
feared that the inheritance falling to the
wife from one father might be added to
that which the husband already possessed
as heir to the other. The reason for the
Spartan law is not so obvious, but it wa
probably intended to enable a Spartan
mother to equalize fortune between two
sets of children not equally we'll provided
for At Alexandria such alliances were
indifferently allowed in either case.
Indeed if one calculates the descent,
one will find that first cousins are really
as closely allied by blood as half brothers
and sisters; each having the same an
cestry on one side, and therefore, any
physiological or psychological objections
to marriages between them are equally
| valid in either case. AS to how far they
are contrary to good morals and decorum,
depends much on the mode of life among
the respective peoples. We find in the
earliest ages, and among the most primi-
tive nations, a common aversion to al
liances among those closely connected
by blood or affinity. The early Romans
and the Arabs of the desert had no com
munication with each other, and we're,
perhaps unaware of each others exist
ence. Yet each held marriages betwecn
those related within the fourth degree as
unlawful. A like simple and primitive
mode of life contributed much to esta5-
fishing this regulation in each case. In
early time, and among people uncor-
rupted by luxury, o only persons, but
families closely related, lived for the
most part together. An innate sense of
what is becoming and right soon i'm
pressed them with the idea that all gal
1antry, courtship or love-making, toward
those brought up under the same roof
was contrary to decorum and morality,
These sentiments appear to have been
held long before any sanitary or sciene
titic observation, theories or c%ontrover-
sizes on the subject. In this respect, at
least, it does not appear that, as the e1;
o~iutionists contend, the aesthetic I'M
moral sentiments of man have continu-
ally advanced and improved. Rather
through the teachings of false religions.
the examples of kings and other promi-
nent men, the vagaries of fancy, the
capricious power of love, and the more
constant sway of ~avarice, the sentiment,
or as some might consider it, the pre- ju-
dice upon this subject seem to have been
weakened and in some cases to have en-
tirely disappeared.
Cambyses, King of Persia, for an in
stance of the power of example. was
enamored of a sister, and wished to
espouse her. Desiring the sanction of
the law for his action, he called together
the royal judges and inquired if there
was any law Of Persia which authorized
a brother to marry his sister. With q
proper regard for law and a prudent re.
gard for safety, they answered that they
found no such law, but they had found
another which declared it lawful for the
King of Persia to do what he wished
From that time such marriages, though
hitherto unknown among the Persians
became lawful. and even frequent. TIL,
custom extended to the Egyptians, ant
was adopted even by their Macedonian
Kings. But wherever the Roman power
extended, such alliances ceased, or a
least were no longer sanctioned by law
The extirpation of this blemish uper
ancient civilization, which the widel!
extended power of Rome in a great de
gree accomplished, was completed ant
rendered permanent by the still wide.
way and deeper influence of Christian
ity. Cousins germaine are, in all Chris
tan countries, the nearest relatives moi
within the prohibited degrees. Ever
reasons of State policy have not beer
sufficiently potent to render alliance
between those more nearly related, ant
Richard III. is probably the only sove
reign who, in order to strengthen hi
unstable throne, even wished to marry
his niece.
Marriages between cousins are ALT il
most Protestant countries, but a gros
abuse of the privilege has sometimes lee
to its withdrawal Of suspension in SOM
States. Among other instances, thu
State of Maryland passed a statute pro
hibiting them, at the recommendation
of the archbishop. who saw the practices
was beginning to prevail, somewhat a
Byron said it did at one time in ole
Spain.
In some churches special dispensatiol
is requisite, but many old denomina
tons, and not a few who are of none
highly disapprove of the marriage o
cousins. The poet Cowper addressed
some very beautiful farewell verses t.
his cousin whom ''inUitus tnviaGm di
nainsI," because the father was mex
orable in declaring the relationship to-
close.
Lord Bacon declared that ''cousin
may be really more related than brother
and sisters sometimes are. This may b
the case when both inherit the traits O
the same branch of the family" Whel
this is the case, as, for instance, whel
both are light-haired and blue-eyed, san
guine or nervous, he thinks marriag
between them very reprehensible, butno
so much so if one should be dark and tn
other fair, or they should manifest i
other striking ways that their tempera
ment and organization are, for the mos