Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1889-02-07
LONDON, O., is to have a work house

marriage between cousins is spoken of,
sterility or deaf mute, idiotic or deform-
ed progeny is predicted, and examples
are always at hand to cite in support of
the prophecy. Does this opinion rest on
positive and well-authenticated facts, or
is it erroneous? This is question that
was examined few years ago by Mr.. g.
H. Darwin, who, after profound study
of the subject, came to the conclusion
that, in the present state of science, there
is nothing to justify the common preju-
dice that exists against the marriage of
near kin. More recently the subject has
been further examined by Mr.. A. H. Huth,
who has just printed an exhaustive work
upon it, in which he arrives at the same
conclusions that Mr.. Darwin did. Mr..
Huth thinks that consanguinity of itself
plays no particular role in the union of
individuals of the same stock. In the
descendants it decreases the tendencies
common to the two progenitors. By rea-
son of their relationship, the closer this
is; and the closer the relationship of the
ancestors, the greater is the tendency of
the descendants to exhibit the same dis
positions. If these are good, consanguin-
eous unions will be advantageous, in that
they will fortify and intensity them. If,
on the contrary, they are bad, such unions
should be avoided, in order to prevent a
of unfavorable tendencies,
which should be suppressed. But the case
is identical where it is a question of un-
related persons. No reasonable person
would advise two neuropathic individu-
ais of different families to unite, because
he knows that the neurosis has every Op-
portunity to become intense in the de-
scendants. On the contrary, union be-
tween consanguineous persons, equally
healthy and well favored, ought to be en-
couraged.
What may be urged against marriages
of near kin is the facility with which un-
favorable tendencies are transmitted, and
the relative rarity of the circumstances in
which such marriages can readily be ad-
vised. But, this admitted and explained,
of itself presents no incon-
venience, especially if we consider how re-
mote, by reason of the existing laws upon
is the degree of consanguinity
between individuals capable of uniting
On the whole, consanguinity accumu-
lateS and intensifies tendencies. If these
are bad, the marriage of near kin should
be avoided; if good, it may be favored
But as, unfortunately, unfavorable ten
denotes are more easily and frequently
because they are the ones
that are established with the most facil-
ity, there is oftener more reason for avoid
ing than seeking such unions. Upon the
whole, Mr.. Huth concludes that the ac-
directed against marriage of
near kin are not justified in the present
state of science.
INDIFFERENT ABOUT TGRAMMAR.
Boston Advertiser
What does it mean that two student
looking young men were heard talking
in street car yesterday somewhat after
this fashion? The younger to the elder:
'' Is it really true that there are fellows in
in your English course who can't spell or
punctuate correctly" Certainly, dear
boy, we can't look out for all those little
things. The professor can
not, at this late day of our training, spend
their time talking spelling and commas
and capitals. They have to talk about
elegance of style and the aesthetic quail
ties of theme" "And are grammati-
cal mistakes passed by?" 80, we don't
concern ourselves much about them
What we want to know about is the sub
-leties and graces of expression -esthet-
cs, and no grammar. That S the talk"
THE SHOES OF FAMOUS WOMEN.
From the WOmans journal.
Ameli6 Rives- -Chanler says she wears
4 common-sense shoe, because l like
hem best, and 1 have right to dress
myself as 1 please
Mrs. Langtry wears a No. 5 shoe of
English make, of good breadth, with a
ow, fiat heel.
Mrs. Potter says she doesn't know
what size her shoes are, but apparently
ler shoe is very long and very narrow.
Mrs. Cleveland wears No. 5, B width.
She has her shoes or slippers to match
every gown she owns, and her hosiery is
always of the same shade.
Mary Anderson has large foot, and
she wears large, broad shoe.
METHODS OF OHIO PEDAGOGY.
From the New York Sun.
A school teacher in Jackson county,
Ohio, has been dismissed for hitting with
4 slung-shot pupil who couldn't define
5he relation of the participle to the other
parts of speech. 1t is small wonder that
Ohio boys learn rapidly if the methods
IF Ohio pedagogy are thus drastic and
Yet if the rudiments of
grammar are to be slungshotted into the
mind, the system of the late Amos Bron-
son Alcott should also be used. Mr. Al
,ott used to apply the ferrule to himself
for the misdeeds of his pupils. So be it
with the slungshot.
SIGNS OF THE MILLENNIUM.
From the New York Sun.
In eleven years from this time we shall
)e living in the twentieth century of the