Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1912-05-06
Written For The A. tlanta Georgian
By Ella Wheeler Wilcox
opyrIght. IgI2, o. Amerlcan-Jo urnaI- EXamlner

that at present the average weight
of cattle is estimated at or about
500 pounds.
Human heredity is now depend
ent on haphazard selection. Little
attention is paid by those who con-
template marriage to the question
of how much stamina will be trans
mitted to the next generation. The
story was told of a famous dog fan
cier who, when asked why he paid
so much attention to his dogs but
delegated the care of his children to
nurses, replied: Ny dogs have
pedigree. Human pedigrees, no
less than canine, rest on physical
basis; yet genealogical records of
human begins, while they have
much to say of social position, have
very little to say of physical ca
pacity or intellectual ability. Those
who, like Gallon and Pearson, be-
lieve in a science of eugenics, hope
that the day will come when pride
of inheritance viii include as i'm
pm ldills IL LlOl DIS Tie NilsCL AIC4tA0s
physical mental and moral stami-
ma. A tendency in this direction
can be discerned. When the nobih-
ty commanded the reverence of all
classes, quite irrespective of abili-
ty. commoners. however well en-
dowed by nature, could never OBJ
tain the same respect. But today
the English house of commons is
more honored and respected than
the house of lords.
Once the importance of a phys
ical pedigree comes to be rated at
its true value, a mans pride in his
own inheritance will show itself in
a eorrelattve feeling of RESPONSE
bility for future generations. For
the sake of children yet unborn,
men and women will set for them
selves physical ideals Of the high
est order"
1t is not, of course, possible to
obtain the highest results in breed
ing humanity by the same means
we obtain such results with fruits
or animals.
Men and women possess senti-
ment, constructive brain power
and wills, which would prevent OBJ
tanning ideal offspring if they were
selected as animals are selected,
purely for breeding purposes. But
were it to become law that
MEN AND WOMEN MUST IN
DERGO \ CAREFUL EXAMINA-
TION BY SKILLED SPECIAL
lists before they could obtain mar
riage licenses. and that a heavy
fine would be enforced if chill
dren were born of people. who had
not passed successfully such exam
nations, it would soon become the
passion and the fashion for young
men and women to be strong in
body and mind.
Our government ought to offer
prizes to the men and the women
who can pass the best physical ex-
animation at the age of twenty
five.
A building lot would be an ad-
mirable prize to offer young man;
and similar gift to the young
woman would not be unsuitable.
Both give an invitation to out
door life, and offer good income
in reward for industry Unoccu-
pied land, large enough to admit a
house, will soon yield money
enough to build the house if prop
erly cared for.
The first born of two such prize
winners should also be lowered nv
the government; and both parents
should be obliged to pass another
examination before a second chiId
came into the world. Our country
is waking to the great need of SUI
pervision over the increase in pon-
ulation.
After one or two hundred wears
1t will take as much Interest in
good specimens of men and women
as It now does in good specimens
of fruit and horses.