The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1912-12-13
PEDICREED
MARRIAGES
A SOLUTION
PerplexIng Problems Confront
ing Society Will Then
Disappear
STANDARD MUST BE
HEALTH, NOT WEALTH
Too Little Consideration for
Next Generation, Says Prof.
Irving Fisher

American life IL guided by a standard
Of health rather than standard oil
wealth. as we see 1t today, we shall
have 'pedigreed marriages, marriages
which, believe, will solve many vi
the perplexing questions of our-so-
called modern civilization"
This interesting prediction was
made by Professor Irving Fisher, OF
Yale university, in discussing the
future OF department OF national
health. which measure Is now before
congress for action.
As president of the committee OF
one hundred on national health, com
posed Of the most noted men OF the
country, which has for its chief 90
ject the establishment OF this depart
ment, where human health may be
made a matter OF equal Importance to
the health OF animals, Professor Elsa
or has made an exhaustive study or
the subject.
when public opinion has been suf.
nciently developed on this point said
Professor Fisher, 1--WE shall take as
great a pride and as deep interest In
our own pedigrees and the pedigreos
Of those whom our sons and daughters
marry as we do today in the blue rib
bon history OF our dogs and horses.
Surrounded by scores OF books on
the subject Of health. which he has
collected here and abroad, in the
beautiful library Of his home. at No.
AGO Prospect-st Professor Fisher talk
cd feelingly on the subject, which he
believes will eventually serve to
revolutioniEe human society.
Now Too Haphazard.
Human heredity is now dependent
ON haphazard selection" said PROBES
sor Fisher. Little attention Is paid
by those who contemplate marriage
az to how much stamina, how much
physical beauty shall be transmitted
to the next generation.
81 once asked millionaire dog
fancier why he took so great a per
sonal interest In his dogs and paid
little or no attention TO the nurses
who cared for his children, and he re-
Piled My dogs have I pedigree
"Our genealogical records speak OF
landed estates, social position and
titles, but have little or nothing TO
say of physical capacity or intellectual
ability.
However, I think the hour is fast
approaching when pride OF Inheritance
will include among It's most important
items. physical. mental and moral
stamina.
in fact" said Professor Fisher,
earnestly, II have known of many ply
sicians and others who are giving this
subject deep thought, who have re-
Int hn
grees OF the families their children
married. know Of at least one en-
gagement broken, where faint In
the family OF young man, would
have without doubt rendered the life
Of the young woman TO whom he was
betrothed one OF misery.
Marriage, above all human choices
must as a rule be left to the individual!
guided, OF course, by his ideals
alone. Once the Importance of ply
steal pedigree is realizes. ones own
pride In his own inheritance will show
itself in a similar feeling OF RESPONSE
.bility for the unborn race.
American mothers who practically
sell their daughters TO degenerate
noblemen, to crafty selfish social an
4 ton, should be frowned upon by wo-
on of high social and moral stand
In the community. These mothers
> \ ould be made TO understand that
y ey have lost caste, rather than gain
1t, by bartering their children to
sle degenerate owner OF title.
mother thus commits a double crin.n-
the added crime to progeny, the
greatest crime OF all.
Title No Criterion.
"A title conveys no real idea OF the
true nature Of its owner" declared
Professor Fisher. THE result is, as
we are frequently called upon to wit.
ness, great human unhappiness amons
young American heiresses who have
Exchanged a pot OF gold Tor title.
do not understand that am OPP
posed to international marriages" cor
tected Professor Fisher. But most of
he noblemen who visit here are mere
fortune hunters, and have not a
great deal to commend them beyond
little handed down by their ancestors.
sirls should demand something be-
Iides the title.
this question Of international mar
Hayes has become almost social in.
titution with us.
Health, beauty and vitality are
much more natural objects OF youth
ul admiration than titles OF wealth
which now exercise for the most part,
baneful influence on marriage.
but marriage, whether at home or
lhroad, should be made less artificial.