The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-08-27
SUPERMEN AND SUPERWOMEN
BY ELIZABETH SLOAN cHEssER, NJ. d,

The First International Eugenics
congress was recently held in London.
A whole week was devoted to the read
ing OF papers on this new science CT
race culture. which has gradually been
obtaining hold upon popular imagi-
nation during the last Few years.
Euxenics was defined by its founder,
Sir Francis oalton, as the study of
agencies under social control that may
improve or impair the racial qualities
of future generations" 1t liz a vast
subject, touhhing, AS It does upon the
whole question of heredity and per
missive marriage, the encouragement
OF healthy and worthy parenthood,
the prevention OF the propa CATION OF
the unfit. and the improved environ
ment or nurture OF the people.
This IL an age Of drastic remedies
and startling reforms.
We are becoming accustomed to
Legislative measures compelling us 10
be- temperate, thrifty, yirtuous and
clean. But public opinion la not yet
ripe for the practical application of
the eugenists' teaching. that health,
worth and efficiency can be ensured
to our descendants by selective mar
sible until marriage IL regulated and
controlled. The liberty OF the SUBJ
ject will become an obsolete phrase
in the new Georgian era, when the
marriage IN ade -in- heaven" doctrine
will give place to love matches ar
ranged by the State
The eugenists are right in advocat-
ing some system where marriage
would be made more difficult, in sthe
sense that the health and antecedents
OF men and women should be consid
cred OF as much Importance in mar
rage az their financial or social posi-
ton. With the development OF euge-
mic teaching. its disciples believe that
public opinion will form in tho direc-
ton not only OF segregating alcohol
les and feeble minded persons. but Of
making marriage "permissive' in the
sense that 1t would only be permitted
on the production of q license as 20
the health fitness Of the contracting
paries. In this We touch a subject
full of controversy. The anti-eugen-
lists say that this new science will do
away with marring for love. They ar
que that heredity Is very mixed;
that the ancestors OF every one of us
run into millions. and that the best
stocks" t<ow back to undesirable
81 eat anu pa tlLS III TipSt uH-
expected way; that no one Of us is
absolutely fit physically, mentally and
morally.
Then where are We TO draw the
line Most OF Us are on the border
land" in the sense that II we are
not equity aid bad-tempered, .tuber-
cular or neu:asthenc. we are lazy,
selfindulgent. spiritually unfit,
Granted that two perfect, sound,
eugeuically ideal persons could be
produced and prevailed upon 10 marry
what of their family histories? Will
mot Investigation bring to light a
degenerate grandfather. hystercal
aunt or drunken cousin. who
would emerge like a skeleton from the
cupboard to dash the cup Of eugenic
content from their lips
Then ii must NOT be forgotten that
many SO called degenerate stocks pro-
duCe men and women to unusual
talent. genius. inventive apaclty; that
the worlds poets. musicians. and
painters would in certain instances
never have been born If marriage had
been regulated" 500 years age.
Even in everyday life good work is
done by the neurasthenics. the neuro-
tics. and nagging, irritable, bad-temp-
cred men and women. whose little