The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-04-03


this problem in the book before us. but he In.
dlcates tbnt in future work grounds may b.
shown for doubling whether the influence Of
religion. SO far as the great seething mass OIL
human beings are concerned. Is not generally
subordinate to the other and oven stronger
forces that move humanity toward action.
".
As to the influence OF legislation on illeglti.
macy. IL is a current maxim that tho State
cannot make mon moral by net OF Parlam cnt.
That may be. but IL is certain that tho State
may make men criminal by Act OF Parliament.
for 1t can declare nm act n crimo which was
no crime before. and It mag make an act in
noccnt tomorrow which was punishable yes
to-day. It is practicable for the State to mako
oil children NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. because
It has been done. Two aovercigns that once
occupied the throne OF England. daughters OF
Henry VIII. were botn Hcgtimato rs far as
tho law could make them so. but tho elder OF
these daughters. Mary. by tho first act OF her
reign fastened to erase tho stigma against
herself. Lord Kancs tolls US that in
1907 Iceland. having become almost do.
populated by an EPIDEMIC. the king Of
Denmark issued proclamation making
legitimate all children born thereafter In the
island to this extent that no unmarried
mother was to DO deemed to have lost her
reputation unless her progeny exceeded ak.
Tho authors conclusion. In view OF MI the
iacts. is that legislation may influence tho ratio
Of ulegitimacy in tho sense that every i'm
pediment to marriage tends to increase Illicit
relations In bavaria. at one time. no young
man was permitted to marry until DO could
prove reasonable ability to support a family.
and Bavarin twenty-four years ago stood FIRST
In Europe for the proportionate number OF its
illegitimate births In various European
countries the young man must not marry until
he has completed his military service In
France the consent OF parents IL q me-
cessity up to certain time. In oil
countries legal marriage costs money.
and q growing inclination is everywhere
noticed among tho working classes OF the
Continent to dispense with all ceremonies and
simply go to housekeeping. DR.. Leffingwell
considers 1t perfectly evident that II through
out Europe oil obstacles to marriage were
abolished. II parental prudence had no power
to oppose. II the sole requirement were the
registration Of intention before a public on
cial. and this act OF recognition were obtain
able at all times. publicly or privately. By rich
or poor. without fee or cost Of any kind. It
would undoubtedly add to the greater fire.
duency Of the legal tie among tho poorer
class. and to tho decrease in worry great
proportion Of tho prevalence Of illeeiti-
mate births. It is. on tho other hand. pro-
nounced disputable to what extent illegiti-
macy may be increased by the legal opportu-
nifty afforded in some countries Of proving
In France. where inquiry as to
is refused out Of 1000 births "a are
lllegitimate: yet in Russia. where the same
state Of things prevails. the proportion OF ille-
yltimacy Is only 20 In 1000. II now We turn
to the countries whore inquiry as to paternity
Is permitted. we find that In Austria out Of
1000 births there are 143 cases Of illegiti-
nacy: whereas In Ireland. under the same |
regime. there are only rs. It cannot. there.
ORE be said that statistics prove anything on |
his point
On the whole. II seems that for an explana-
ion Of tho curious differences regarding the |
ries and different districts OF the same coun.
~. we must look mainly to tho Inheritance Of |
ace and the proclivities Of immediate ances-
~. Dr. Leff1ngwell Is led to this conclusion
y the remarkable percentage Of ille2itmsoy-'l
ne in seven-which has long obtained In dve
ounties of northeastern Scotland This ab-
ormal tendency to illicit relationships cannot
70 ascribed to ignorance. for In this district
My Q per cont of the women married are un-
BILE to write It is not due to poverty. for
q no part Of Scotland does so small
proportion Of the population live in
ottages OF single room. It cannot
o attributed to religion. for nowhere is the
tern faith Of Calvin and Knox moro cher
she'd. It is not caused by any surplus OF wo-
len. for there is larger proportion OF unmar-
led females in other parts Of Scotland where
hero is much less illeeitimacy. Neither. finally:
re the facts traceable to any centralized
OF vicious propensity in any ono
art Of the district. On the contrary. the pro-
ivity seems to dlffuse itself over the entire |
sgion with great evenness Of distribution. |
nder all these circumstances tho most plausi-
le explanation of this remarkable local tend |
ncy to immortality is that It Is primarily due |
} ancestral predispositions coming down. It
lay be. from prehistoric times. Probably the
roximate and active cause to-day is the con-
lgion OF loose example. the near inheritance
unfortunate propensities. Evidence Of SIM
ar hereditary proclivity is not wanting among
her peoples. as. for instance. among tho In
abtants OF the Pacific islands who have been
inverted to Christianity. and among the
nancipnted negroes OF tho United States
here are few studies OF more absorbing In
rest than the tracings out OF the workings Of {
sstiny through natural laws and the indu- q
ice OF ancestral vicos and virtues upon con-
mporary character and conduct
VII. F.,
In another essay contained In the volume
fore us. DR.. LefIlngwell considers the inhu- !
ice Of seasons upon conduct. The statistics I
Elected show that tho number OF crimes per- 1
lining to sex passion Is affected to an aston 8
hing extent by the state OF the weather. t
nus. during the ten years ending In 1887 v
ere were recorded In England and Wales
BOT assaults against chastity. OF these. a
225 took place in the second quarter Of the y
ar. comprising the months April. May. and
me. and 2.543 in tho third quarter. compre-
nding the months July. August. and Sep 4
mber. Tho hypothesis toward which the 4
cts point is obviously this: that upon the q
ryous organization OF human bodies tper- h
ps especially upon dwellers In tho temper 7
0 zones) there is exerted during the n
ocession OF the seasons from winters l.
$50 to midsummer some underlined spe- Y
10 influence which in some manner tends to q