The Tucson citizen., 1902-01-03
SCHEMES FoRsToCK IMPROVEMENT

The Denver Post devotes three
columns of space to report of lee
ure recently delivered at the Colora-
do metropolis by one OF the Protes-
sors of the leading educational insti-
tuition of that State. The Professor
whose name is Gibbon. advocated
matrimonial Utopia. beautiful to con-
template but rather difficult for the
statesmen to realize. Mathematical
reasoning, statistics and laws OF
beredity are invoked to show how to
improve the human race.
Natural inheritance" is Professor
Gibbons starting point. Everybody Is
very much what he inherits. II only
the hearty, vigorous and beautiful
transmitted their qualities the race
woulu steadily increase In vigor ana
heaury. whereas, insane, vicious anu
uglv by modern philanthropy TENDS.
il is held. to degrade the human race
Natures noblemen alone should De
sought out. we are told, and encour-
aged TO marry. Only picked athletes,
whose family history has been criti-
cally examined. ought to be licensed
bv the States as marriageables, and
voung women of AXE faultless figure
development and charm ought to be
mated with them. The parues thus
selected should be endowed by the
Government, as being the hope OF the
country. Candidates for admission to
the ranks of the marriagable would
be selected, OF course, by compeu-
tive tests after medical examinations.
AN enthusiasm to improve the race,
saws the lecturer, would probably ex-
press itself by granting diplomas 10
select class of young men and women,
by encouraging their intermarriage, by
fastening the time of marriage OF
women OF that class and ny provision
for rearing healthy children. Dowrles
and exemption from taxes would De
the happy lot of desirable couples. Ihe
prize winners would occupy position
so admirable in every way that in
creased numbers of young people
would give attention to physical deVel-
opment, with the result that the i'm
provement of the race would be rapid
~ advanced.
The expense of making the system
work would fall, of course, upon the
other members of the community-the
failures-but they would have as COM
pensation the reflection that they were
engaged in public-spirited enter
prise.
There are many objections, we fear,
TO Professor Gibbons scheme for rails
ing fancy stock. A good man of high
civic worth Is not, after all, bred or
housed in the same way as pig. The
pampered beneficiaries Of Prosessor
Gibbons system. having no difficulties
to overcome would probably become
fat, lazy and stupid. Their offspring
would not be brought up in an en-
vironment calculated to impart a
moral or mental stimulus. Men and
women are not, like horses or sheep,
guided by instinct, nor are they wholly
controlled by reason. Likes and dis
likes are to be considered in establish
ing happy matrimonial relations. The
clever young man may not wish to
marry the clever young woman he
usually fancies that he has cleverness
enough for both.
On the other hand, the young wo-
men of vigorous physique and soaI'
ing intellect have a will Of their own
and would not be apt to be dictated
to in the choice of a husband. AS a
natter of fact clever men and clever
women do have opportunities aud al.
vantagCa dcniel u tho less favored.
They get help and sympathy from
those who see their superiority. They
do probably as a rule marry earlier
than the undesirables An improve
ment in the race is in progress with
out Professor Gibbons artificial ar
rangement. The world is growing
better naturally under the Impulse of
increased education, and fancy
schemes dictated by statistics and
mathematics will not improve mat
ters.