New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1886-11-17
Science Joins Poetry in Defense
Of Falling in Love.

Science Joins Poetry in Defense
Of Falling in Love.
From the New York Sun.
The practice of falling in love is as
universal as ever, and yet most peo-
pie will be surprised when they are
told that science joins poetry in it's
defense.
The scientific argument in favor of
marriage for love alone is familiar to
students of certain Of the writer's of
the modern school of German phlloso-
ply, but it is now presented in a
more popular, because more generally
Ineligible form by Grant Allen in the
Fortnightly Review of London. Sir
John Campbell had taken the ground
that by "giving way to foolish ideas,
about love and the tastes of young
people," we were sacrificing the best
interests Of the race. Instead of leav-
ing men and women to pick out their
own wives and husbands, he would
have the selection done for them by q
scientific commission.
But Grant Allen shows that the in
stinct of mankind settles that matter
far better than it could be settled by
any artificial process of selection de.
visable by human intelligence. In
short, he proves very conclusively that
the old-fashioned doctrine that mar
riages are made in heaven is the true
scientific doctrine; for falling love is
nothing more than the latest, high
est and most involved exemplifcation
in the human race of that almost uni
versal selective process which Mr.. OAR
win has enabled us to recognize
throughout the whole long series of
the animal kingdom"
When people fall in love they simply
yield to an instinct which directs them,
as rule, to the choice of proper
mates, and in nine cases out Of ten it
is a reciprocal affection. The man
and woman feel that THY two are fit
ted for each other, AMI that fitness
makes them proper progenitors Of a
race. The beauty the man admil es
in the woman is expressive of moral
and physical qualities which it is de-
sirable to preserve, and the
strength and the devotion in the man
which draw to him the affection and
confidence of the woman are qualities
equally valuable for the preservation
of the race. A fine form, agood figure,
beautiful bust, a round arm and
neck, a fresh complexion, a lovely
lace, are all outward and visible signs
Of physical qualities that OF, the whole
conspire to make up a healthy and
vigorous wife and mother. The beauty
that is most attractive also owes it's
chief charm to moral qualities indi-
eating a temperament fitted for mater
nifty.
People too naturally select their
compliments in marriage. Short men
often prefer tall women, and tall men
short women. The dark is attracted
by the fair and the commonplace is
stirred to admiration by the original.
Intellect needs beauty, and excitabiE
ity finds its counterpart in repose and
self-control. Meanwhile the defective
go minated, or find their mates in SUI
perior strength and soundness drawn
to them because OF sympathy and a
desire to exercise protection over
them. In this way the law of nature
is fulfilled and the evolution of the
race is carried forward.
AS Grant Allen says, it is the NOR
alists and doctrinaires who are al
ways in the wrong, andthe sentimental
lists and the rebels who are always in
the right in this matter. The teaching
OF romance and poetry are more phil:
osophical and more scientific than
that Of the wiseacres and those who
demand that instinct shall be stifled
and worldly prudence alone shall gov
ernin the arrangement of marriages.
Don't marry for beauty; don't mar.
~ for inclination; don't marry for
love; marry for money, marry for So
cial position, marry for advancement,
marry for our convenience, not for
your own" So cries the prudential
philosopher. But those who listen to
the injunction of the romance writer
and "marry tor love only" best serve
theinterests of the race, for they obey
the law of nature which is working
out the improvement OF the human
breed and the elevation OF society.