The Washington herald., 1913-01-19

Denton, Tex, Jan. B-There Is IN this
town an educational outfit which Is des-
tined to become famous. Its pupils are
young women exclusively, numbering
about 400. and recently II has come to be
known as the Matrimonial College, Tor
the reason that IL makes a speciality of
teaching what might be called the art OF
marriage.
Recognizing the fact that marriage Is
woman's principal profession, one depart
ment of the college is devoted to the
preparation of girls for wifehood. They
enter at sixteen to eighteen years OF
age, and are instructed in housekeeping.
in physiology particularly that OF wom-
en). and in the business Of picking out a
husband. They are taught that they
must not marry a man unless he can
produce a clean bill of health in the
shape of a physicians certificate guar
anteeing him to be. sound In body.
The girls are taught that prospective
husband is to be regarded not merely as
a mate, but as an ancestor OF genera
tions yet to be. 1t follows that no man
who is not fit to be an ancestor is fit to
be a husband. Il am ready to be yours,
Jack" says the young woman at the
final moment OF courtship. "Only one
preliminary is necessary. Get a certifi-
cate from DIR. So-and-so, stating that
you are perfectly sound physically and
we'll make the wedding day as soon as
you like"
Has to Make Good.
II Ia up to the young man to make
good. He can have no reasonable objec-
ton to such a stipulation. II he cannot
furnish the certificate. he had better step
back and give some other fellow
chance. Funny idea? Not a bit Of II.
II seems odd only because It is novel.
Probably very few of those who will
read this letter in print are aware OF
the fact that there exists at the present
time an association Of graduates of girls
colleges which requires from every one
Of its members a pledge that she will
under no circumstances marry a man
who cannot furnish just such certth-
cate as is here described.
But to go back to the Matrimonial Col
lege at Denton. The department in ques-
tion has existed for only a very few
years Up to last October twenty-nine
children had been born to graduates Of
il. According to general mortality av-
erages, four Of these would now be dead.
As a matter of fact. however. all Of
them are living. The reason seems 10
be that the mothers were taught how to
take care of themselves, their homes,
and their babies.
woman's most important work is the
bringing Of babies into the world. 1t Is
necessary that those babies shall be
sound and healthy IL they are to grow
up into happy and useful citizens. Most
girls. unfortunately, enter into the es-
tate Of marriage without any knowledge
whatever of the business OF motherhood
which fact accounts for a large per-
centage of infant deaths. What the Mat
rlmoniaI College tries to do is to teach
this business. II is here that the study
of physiology comes in; and. to cite one
little point, IL is explained to the pupils
that one out OF every four blind persons
now living owes his or her affiiction to
the fact that simple measures were not
adopted Through ignorance) by the
mother for dealing with an infectious
eye trouble which is always liable to at
tack a newborn child.
How opPositcs Attract.
A strong man is as likely as not to
marry a weakly woman. Her very weak
ness appeals to his strength. But 1t is
otherwise with the opposite sex. Every
woman wants 4 sturdy man for hus-
band, and the sort OF instruction given
at this educational establishment i'm
presses upon the girls minds the abso-
Lutte importance of picking out a mate
who represents a high physical eff
cheney. Thus il appears that We have
here the first practical solution Of the
much-discussed problem Of 'eugenics."