Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-09-27
Horticulture.


Mrs. Mona Card treated the marriage question
in the Westminster Review from the sentimental
side, and came TO the conclusion that 'Our present
form OF marriage Is q vexatiOus failure" Now Mr..
julius Werthelmer examines the subject In the
Nineteenth Century from the scientific side, and
reaches the conclusion that our present marriage
customs ''set at defiance all the rules which should
be followed in order to secure at the least that the
race shall not deteriorate, and possible that 1t
shall improve"
MS Card looked chiefly at the sentimental
satisfaction OF the man and woman In marriage,
but Mr.. WerLheimer thinks merely OF the welfare
OF their progeny as It effects the welfare OF the
community AS whole.
He takes as his text the remark OF Sir George
C..mpbeil at the meeting OF tine BRUSH AssOcia-
ton In 1856, that "wnie great attention Is De-
slowed on the breeding OF dome stlcated animals
vs1s ss ggn 70 tae
improvement OF our own race" Mr.. WerLheimer
answers that 1t is feasible, TO partial extent at
least, by arranging marriages with reference to
what he calls "nomiculture."
He does not expect that the principles followed
on a stock-breeuing farm will be carried out fully
in human society, equally desirable as they wOu d
be in both Cases, Tor SIT Is obviously absurd TO
hope for a state OF things where young people In
general will be willing 70 make their matrimonial
arrangements solely, or even mainly, with an eye
to the more rapid improvement OF The race" Sir
George Campbell had spoken contemptuOusly OF the
custom OF "gtving way TO the foolish ideas about
love- and the tastes OF young people whom we can
hardly trust 10 choose their own bOnnetS;" but
Mr.. Wertheimer sees no possibility OF getting rid
Of 1t altogether In favor or the scientific process Or
mating adopted with brutes on a stock farm. Ii
might De good thing 10 compel an amiable man
TO sacrif1ce himself by marrying "a somewhat
shrewuke wife," or very tall girl 10 wed very
short man. so that their progeny might be normal;
but the rule would not WORK In practice, for men
and women are determined to marry whom tney
please, and Will never consent 10 let the anthro-
polo, ISIS pick out husbands and wives for them.
Yet Mr.. Werthellner thinks that q step may be
taken In that direction by creating public opinion
in ia M al iau
lative measures III further ulat1On OF r1ages
Already the doctrine Of selection is satisfied In
CHIEF motives TO marriage, in the order OF their
weight, he sets down as "Lhe possession Of wealth,
physical beauty, and moral WORTH" and all OF
these ne nnds TO De more or less In line with the
improvement OF the race. Wealth implies fire.
Quently valuable physical. mental, and moral
properties OF the possessor or OF ms or her imme
diale ancestors" Physical beauty Is often The
consequence OF physical health and strength, and
and q harmonious constitutional Development.
dividual and the lack Of It Is allied with physio-
logical a0nOrmaliues. Sin Is only q symptom OF
disease or OF faulty physical organization accord
This natural tendency to select hitting mates.
Mr.. Wertheimer contends could be greatly sIimu-
lated BY the clergy, so powerful everywhere and
Then he would have the law step In TO prevent
marriages among persons suffering from heredi-
tary diseases The form OF such state interference
which he recommends Is this:
previous 70 the issue Of any document permit
ting the accumulation OF q marriage it would Ue
necessary that both persons concerned should sub
NIT themselves for examination to the medical
council appointed for this purpose in each district
Such councils might consist OF three duly quail
ned medical men, and IL would De their duty to
give certificate OF freedom from known heredi-
tary disease TO all applicants who were either pos
tlvey or even doubtfully In sufficiently good con-
stiLutional health. Marriages without such GER
tincate would be Illegal and the resulting on
spring illegitimate.
"The STATE might also reasonably interfere to
prevent the transmission OF Objectionable moral
characteristics, though here, again, only TO very
limited extent That habitual Criminals should be
freely allowed to become fathers and mothers is
Is undoubtedly grave social mistake. SUCH per-
sons should be prevented from extending their
numbers by being required 70 submit either TO per.
manent Imprisonment or or TO such medical Oper.
atoms as would prevent further mischief Possibly
the same treatment might be advisable In the case
OF confirmed habttual drunkardS"
But only q tyrant like the king OF Dahomey
could enforce such laws All womankind would
rise up In rebellion and poetry and romance would
put themselves In battle array, while humanity
religion. and the tender sensitiveness OF modern
life would night against such regulations as brutal
and barbarOus beyond endurance.
In marriage, as In all things else, the human
race must work out It's own salvation with fear and
trembling. and after the old, old way, suffering
from its mistakes and Fronting by its right doing
bearing the penalties or It's folly and reaplng the
reward OF It's wisdom. Science can do great deal
but II cannot rev0luttonize human nature.