The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-08-18

make ready the course which they woult
have the tumultuous current follow: or the,
must stand by, powerlcss to divert Its ten
dency from channel OF It's own choosing
That is. they must look out that the init
macy OF young people which is stimulativt
OF love shall be confined to those whom
they think proper for mating. proceeding
on the sound assumption that love may be
exclusive when once II has found par.
ticular provocation. but that In essence
1t Is general sentiment whose concentra-
tion depends on fortuitous circumstances,
associations. and opportunities. It is high
ly in6ammabe material. quick to blaze
up when the spark reaches It. This spark
may need to BIO a special fascination. but
1t Is fascination which may be exercised
by any one OF many. under favoring con-
| ditions. 1t Is not peculiar to an Individual,
as the enamored imagine. though 1t may
belong only to class Of temperaments.
French parents. therefore. tako the man
ngement OF the marriages OF their children
into their own hands. They proceed on the
theory that youthful passion is not capable
OF directing the mating wisely. but is a
disorder destructive OF the judgment which
| should determine a matter so supremacy
important to the individuals. their fami-
lies. and all society. Mere falling in
love they do not regard as q justifi-
cation for marriage. 1t Is an i'm
pulse OF instructive passion. and Is not
| OF itself any indication OF the fitness
| for wedlock OF those possessed by 1t. 1t
may rather indicate the necessity for the
restraining interference Of unselHsh pa
rental affection. as opposed to the blind self
ishness OF headlong passion. The very
fact that young man and a young
girl are "madly In love" with one
another suggests the need Of caution as
to their marriage. They should get in
their right senses before venturing to
take a step SO momentous in both It's
practical and sentimental consequences 1t
Is better for the passion to cool of before
marriage than after. 1t Is better for them
to get their eyes open before. rather than
afterward. The test OF the feeling. whether
1t Is mere instructive and evanescent ex-
element or real and enduring affection.
should be made before they 60 to the altar,
since at one time or the other it is bound to
be made.
All this seems to DO far away from the
question Of our correspondent; but In truth
it Is pertinent to it. Simply because he
loves his cousin and she loves him In re-
turn. Is no sufficient reason why they should
get married. They can love one another
without being married. and the best way
they can express and prove their mutual
love may be in not getting married. II the
objections OF our correspondents mother to
their union be well-founded. each should
look on their marriage as selfish gratiflca-
ton at the expense Of the other.
The question asked OF US indicates. how
ever. that these two people are not dis
posed to yield to impulse without regard to
judgment and without care OF the conse-
quences. They are giving serious consid-
Grafton to serious matter; and that sug-
gests that they are looking at the venture
they desire to make. with the thoughtful
ness OF genuine and lasting affection. So
far. then. as their feeling for one an
other Is concerned. these cousins seem
to be fitted for matrimony. They seem to
have the essential foundation Of mutual
respect. They are also ready to listen to
reason. lest either should be tempted to
follow the impulse to selfish indulgence at
the cost OF the happiness Of the one beloved.
They are sane people capable OF self-control
enough to look ahead calmly before they |
enter into marriage. and not wild people |
bent on getting possession the one OF the |
other. whatever happens.
Cousinship Is not necessarily bar to |
marriage for fear Of injury to the offspring |
OF the union: but the collateral consanguin- |
ity dictates special caution about enter |
ing into wedlock. Where there Is a COM |
mon inheritance Of tendencies to physical |
or mental defect or weakness. 1t Is danger
GUS. for the hereditary disposition may be |
intensified by the breeding In but. so, too,
these tendencies may be common to pair
not thus related. Some OF the current So
cial reformers want board Of physolog-
ical and anthropological experts legally
to regulate marriages in strict
accordance with scientific theories OF breed
ing; but under such system the whole in
OF marriage would be destroyed
Mating would take the place OF marrying,
and the sentiment which gives life its
greatest beauty would be extinguished
Society would be turned into human
stock farm. and men and women would |
be degraded to the level OF brutes
Moreover. under such physiological re-
,trants there would be little mating.
Not one marriage in q hundred would
stand such a test OF It's fitness, SO general
s tho inheritance which might be described
Is defective. SO mixed up Is the blood Of the
human race. Nor can the qualities most
desirable for preservation in men be per-
oetuatcd by the methods used In breeding
lorses and cattle.
Hence we can lay down no absolute rule
or tho guidance OF our enamored friends.
Many cousins have married without evil
to their offspring. In many
,ther cases the results have been deplora-
10. Each case must be decided by itself
n view OF possible chances and probable
r,Iit. A wise physician acquainted with
he family history would be the best ad-
User for our anxious correspondent. since
he only objections urged against the mar
iage seem to come within the special I
province OF such an expert.
-------
In Change Unchanged.
Our esteemed contemporary, tho Spring.