The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-10-13

possession of a seraglio. and had even de-
cided on the uniform 10 be worn by his
wives. But he was, unluckily, confined
to zone unceasing wife, and had no fam
lily, Nature, in our poor opinion, does not
like giant intellects. Alexander, indeed,
was the son Of Philip, but who was the
son of Alexander? Julius Caesar, though
fairly polygamus, left no little julius TO
carry on the business. nor was Napoleon
much more fortunate. Even granting
polygamy TO very clever men, we doubt
If race of intellectual giants would be
the result. There have been few men Of
more mind (though misdirected) than
Charles II; few men were more polygam-
Gus. Yet a breed OF wits and chemists
were not left in the land, and II was stupid
old James ii who begat the Duke of Ber
wick. the genius being on the mothers
side. For these reasons (among others
we do not think that eminent poets and
philosophers ought to be encouraged In
marrying early and often.
AS to champion athletes, IL is another
question. Nature has no rooted prejudice
against physical strength, as she has
against genius. For genius goes some
how with what we call hysteria, most
persons Of genius being epileptic, or ''hal-
lucines," and that kind dies out, and is
sterile Were it otherwise, mankind
would become too clever, of which there
Is no immediate danger. DR.. Campbell
thinks that among savages the superior
persons acquire most wives, and leave
most and most powerful offspring. This
is not exactly so, in Australia the old
men get almost all the wives, while in
Zululand Cctewayo would not allow the
young braves TO marry. In this way
savages have not the advantages which
poygamy might give, nor does 1t seem
to pay among the Turks. The state can
not direct breeding, as IL does to a certain
extent In the Platonlc republic; the dream
Is vain
Turning to heredity, DR.. Campbell de-
cides that all parasitic diseases, from sus-
ceptibility to a flea bite up to consump-
ton are hereditary. Who, then, are UNI
fit TO marry, as everybody must have some
kind of unpleasant legacy or diseaseY
People must be tested by their family
history. Alasi few know much OF their
great-grandfat Lovers young will not
reflect on the family history of Amanda
except in very grave cases, as Of lunacy.
They will not put up with state coercion,
and Il Is not pessimisdc to conjecture
that they never will
Very thoughtful persons will be con-
sctentious. many are already, but the mass
of mankind will never be very thoughtful.
Doctors may give good advice, but they
cannot make lovers act upon 1t. except, Go
already said, in certain obviously serious
cases and even these are often neglected.
The 'highly sensitive are not suited for
this hard world" that is why genius is
not hereditary as a rule, and why Il dies
out. perhaps But the highly sensitive are
always in love; indeed a French savant
argues that a really healthy man cannot
fail in love.
He only does so when out of form. The
"neurotic man should remain single" But
he wont, and marriage often makes him
less neurotic, while his children may be
fen
thinks that they. too, will become early
gray and neurotic; but they would proba-
biy prefer that to the alternative nothing
az all. or ION the theory Of previous ex-
istence) nothing for a long time. Finally.
all Is a question Of conscience. Does con-
science approves Of innumerable celibates?
on DR.. Campbeirs theory, celibates would
be extremely numerous, and we may doubt
whether the condition of affairs as an
Improvement on the present.