Omaha daily bee., 1910-03-27

in their habits or tendencies, how ignorant
Of things in general and of child bearing in
particular-may, II they so agree, become
married and blunder away without help
or hindrance in the work Of bringing UP a
family.
"One thing is certain. Our young people
continue to fall in love as Of old. But so
far as science has investigated this phe-
nomenon In its direct bearing upon the
future of the race 1t might be a result of
Infection or contagion or merely an
idiosyncrasy of callow youth. What are
the correct standards of form and sym
metry Of body, Of physical health, of
ability to work and to resist fatigue, of
compatibillties of modern nature, OF knowl-
edge as to the care and instruction of in
fants? What are the marks whereby a
young woman whose hand is sought in
marriage may know good man when
she sees him and those whereby a young
man may know a good woman?
"All the foregoing important matters are
left to chance and accident and gossip be-
cause of tho fact that we have been labor
ing under the foolish belief that love is
blind and not to be influenced by instruc-
tion or reason Young men fall in love
with such superficial things as A big, bas-
ket shaped hat or a mincing gait, and
young women with flashly neckties and
glstening jewelry partly because they do
know from intelligent instruction what to
look for as evidences of real worth In the
opposite sex. After a brief period Of
thoughtless, uneirected counting many a
young couple are united in what we call
the holy bonds of matrimony,' but that
these bonds may very often prove unholy
In the sight OF God and man the divorce
courts records will amply attest. One of
every twelve marriages in this country is
now annulled by divorce. But It is juvenile
instruction rather than anti-divorce lesis-
lation that will do most to remove this
great blight from the American family.
Tests for MatrimOny.
Il would have the entrance examina-
tions for matrimony in every state about
as follows:
points:
l., Comparative freedom from the more
serious chronic diseases and weaknesses.
CTo be named In the law)
q Comparative freedom from criminal
habits and tendencies as established by
knowledge OF the rudlments of the
psychology of child development Including
the moral and intellectual training of the
I. Knowledge of the rudIments OF home
sanitation.
5, Some degree of compatibility of tenn
Test the young man further:
/. AS to his ability to do steady and hon
orahle work and TO provide means Of
living, requiring reasonable prospect OF a
permanent vocation
2. AS to his knowledge OF the rights Of
women as housewives and of children in
the home
Test the young woman:
i. on the rudiments OF domestic science
and art including pers0nel knowledge Of
how to do housework.
As to her knowledge of the business
atfalrs OF the successful housewife.
q on the matter OF feeding, clothing and
otherwise caring for infant children.
one OF the principal reasons why par
ents continue to train their children by
old fashioned methods OF guess, hearsay
and superstition is that there has never
been prepared and offered to them any
authentic, scientific literature on the sub
sect. The old hit or miss methods OF farm
ing and stock raising are being given up
to the exclusive use OF those interested in
rearing children, while the farmer and
stockman take advantage OF the methods
worked out for them by the trained ex-
perts Yet there is no more fertile field
for research and investigation today than
that OF the home life OF children. Send
trained men ana women into this field to