Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-11-22
SCIENTIFIC PROPAGATION.
Victoria Woodruff DiscOurses Upon
the Remedies for Improving the HUI
man Race.

From the New York Sun.
An interesting as we'll as interested audi
ence filled the parquet, the two galleries
and all but few boxes at Carnegie Music
Hall last evening. There Were short-haired
and square jawed matrons, accompanied by
meek-looking husbands; there were serious
looking young women wearing spectacles,
and a few young men and fewer children,
all there to hear Victoria Woodruff (Mrs.
| John Biddulph Martin) discuss The Scien-
tifc Propagation of the Human Race, or
| the Humanitarian Aspects of Finance and
Marriage"
There were many humanitarians in the
lobby of the music hall, and the people be-
gan to come an hour before the lecture.
They We're entertained a short while by
music from the great organ, we'll by
a study of the appearance and manners of
their neighbors. The strong-minded woman
usually makes her presence known. Last
evening she was in one of the boxes, and
attracted SO much attention by applauding
that the audience frequently turned from
the lecturer to look at her. Then her sister
in the cause walked straight down the CEN
ter aisle to the stage during the lecture,
removed a bright red wrap, and stared at
different men who occupied comfortable
seats After standing ten minutes she gave
rear of the house.
At o'clock the organ stopped, and Mrs.
Martin walked with swift stride to the
center of the stage. Despite that period
which she defined twenty-five years of
public work she is young looking woman.
| There is just tinge of gray in her hair;
her cheeks are pink ana her movements
active. She wore a violet colored gown,
simply made, and a bunch of viole;s at her
throat. A handbag was fastened at her
belt, and in her hand was a large pile of
manuscript, which she read carefully until
near the close Of the lecture. She spoke in
treble voice. which was strained in the
pcrorations.
Mrs. Martins argument was that the
highest study should be given TO the appli-
cation of scientific principles to the breeding
of the genus homo. Breeding and en-
vironment were the causes OF all conditions
of life, and crime, insanity and idiocy were
tfaceable to ignorance in breeding the hu-
man race. A healthy soul depends upon a
healthy mind in a healthy body.
If a man be an idiot a criminal we
have only TO study how much is due to
breeding and environment to know the why
and wherefore of his being so. Ii a woman
is a devil or a saint. she is so because she
was bred under certain conditions and be-
cause the influences of the environment
which make devils or saints acted upon
her.
Remedies consist in altering the condi-
tons which give rise to the two classes
Idealize sexual selection and improve the
are the product of defective breeding dis
appear; improve the economic conditions
and individuals who are the product of de-
fective environment decrease. What Won
derful solicitude is shown in the breeding
of choice animals, and what utter indiffer-
ence in the breeding of boys and girls
whereas 1t ought to be the other way. Ply
steal wrecks in their turn breed physical
wrecks. In close inbreeding not only do the
late offspring fail to reach the full size and
stature of their race, but the nervous sys-
TEN fails to attain normal development
The inbred lighting cocks stand to be cut
up without making resistance
The three remedies proposed for improv-
ing the condition of the human race are
First. by individual sense Of duly strength
ened by educating men and women to the
responsibility of becoming parents; second
by educating public opinion as to the i'm
po-tance of intelligent breeding until there
is a reaction in public sentiment against
the crime of perpetuating infrfnities; third
by the absolute isolation from society of
irresponsible unfit individuals Marriage
when il comes well arranged, is heaven:
when II comes under other conditions We
know all we want to know of the other
place.
Mrs. Martin brought cheers from the audi
ence when she said that the American title
hunters were the laughing stock of Europe
purchasers of WORKOUT titles in the phy-
steal wrecl-s of families made themselves
most ridiculous" she added.