Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1903-02-26
Too Selfish TO Marry.

A letter to the author from Mr.
Roosevelt is to appear as preface to q
book called The Woman Who Tolls,
which will be published shortly by
Doubleday, Page & Co. 1t is as fol-
lows:
WHITE House, WASHINGTON,
October Is. 1902
Ny DEAR Mrs VAN VoRsT:-l
must write you a line to say how
much I have appreciated your article,
The Woman Who Tolls But to me
there is a most melancholy side to it,
when you touch upon what is funda-
mentally infinitely most important
than any other question in this coun-
try-that is, the question of race sui
eide, complete or partial.
An easy, good-natured kiudliness
and desire to be "independent" =
that is, to live ones life purely ac-
cording to ones own desires-are in
no sense substitutes for the tundamen-
tai virtues, for the practice of the
strong racial qualities, without which
there can be no strong races-the
qualities OF courage and resolution in
both men and women, of scorn of what
is mean, base and selfish, of eager de-
sire to work or fight or suffer- as the
case may be, provided the end to be
attained is great enough, and the con-
temptuous putting aside of mere ease,
mere vapid pleasure, mere avoidance
of toll and worry.
| do not know whether | most pity
or most despise the foolish and selfish
man or woman who does not under
stand that the only things really
worth having in life are those the ac-
quiremeut of which normally means
cost and effort If man or woman,
through no fault of his OF hers, goes
throughout life denied those highest
of all Joys which spring only from home
life, from the having and bringing up
of many healthy children, l feel for
them deep and respectful sympathy
the sympathy one extends to the gal
liant fellow killed at the beginning OF
a campaign, or the man who tolls hard
and is brought to ruin by the faults OF
others. But the man or woman who
deliberately avoids marriage and has
a heart so cold as to know no passion,
and a brain so shallow and selfish as
to dislike hrving children, is in effect
a criminal against the race and should
be an object of contemptuous abhor-
renee by all healthy people.
OF course, no one quality makes a
good citizen, and no one quality will
save a nation. But there are certain
great qualities for the lack Of which
no amount of Intellectual brillisncy or
of material prosperity, OF Of easlness Of
life can atone, and which show deca-
dence and corruption In the nation
lust as much if they are produced by
selfshness and coldness and ease-lov-
ing laziness among comparatively
poor people as if they are produced
by vicious or frivolous luxury in the
rich. If the men Of the nation are
not anxious to work ID many differ
ent ways, with all their might and
strength, and ready ana aOle 10 ugDO
at need, and anxious to be fathers Of
families, and if the women do not rec
ognlze that the greatest thing for any
woman is to be a good wife and moth
er, why, that nation has cause to be
alarmed about It's future.
There Is no physical trouble among
us Americans. The trouble with the
situation you set forth Is one of char
acter, and therefore we can conquer If
we only will.
Very Sincerely Yours,
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.