The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1913-08-13

Commenting upon the situation this
leading journal of the middle West
says: What possible contribution to
the happiness and worthiness OF a
nation can such a herd as this make?
There is not even a pretense of real
American citizenship among any Of
them-although it is quite probable
that many, if not all Of them, vote
at Chicago's elections. No Lomes, no
wives, no children, no interest in
schools or churches, the drama or
art. They are indeed 'toiling YER
min.' In many instances the Amer
lean family whose family few years
ago had home Of their own where
the children grew up at the public
school and had card at the public
library and pew in the church, and
a family physician who was family
friend-this man is gone, he and his
family, the schools, the churches and
the family physician, and we have in
place of him and his neighbors, 800
men sleeping in seven rooms fit for
nothing but to destroy our civiliza-
ton and disseminate the filth dis
eases that wait hungrily upon over
crowding, exhaustion and sitting at
mospheres. This picture may be
slightly oYerdrawn but that it is pos
sible at all in this country should
serve as a warning.
We are here this evening, I be-
lieve, not so much to discuss theories
as to enunciate facts and endeavor
to map out something definite for the
future. To this end therefore I shall
briefly direct my remarks.
There is no doubt in my mind but
that the home owner, generally
speaking, stands for the best citizen
ship. Others will point out how this
may be accomplished. I desire to en-
courage, however, the idea from the
health standpoint in behalf Of both
the individual and the State.
The first reliable statistics ever
compiled in this country on the rel
ative longevity Of the married and
unmarried man and woman has just
been completed by ew York State.
The evidence is preponderatingly in
favor of the married-and therefore
the home-makers. I unhesitatingly
urge. marriage and the establishment
of the home as the best single step
towards good health and long life.
In this connection permit me to
introduce the new science OF eugen-
les. Much of this new science is yet
within the pale Of uncertainty. I
promise not to lead you beyond the
bounds Of reason into the hazy do
main Of incredulity. I see no reason
why we are not ready in South Caro-
lima for law requiring the bride
and groom to present a physicians
certificate that they are in good
health before the minister shall pro-
nounce them man and wife. Several
States have passed such law. The
last State to do so was Pennylvania.
There the bride and groom Of the fu-
ture will be required to take a SOL
emn oath that they have no trans
missihle disease. Such a course in
this State would hasten this new SCI
ence of being well born.
The only other suggestion I shall
make this evening is that we should
foster the agencies already in our
hands which look toward the mainte-
nance of health in the home. En-
lightened woman is preeminently the
sanitarian Of the home. The State
Of South Carolina provides "model
home at Winthrop college for the
training of her daughters in home
economics and sanitation. From the
front gate to the remotest recesses
Of the backyard you will find the
rules as provided by the State board
of health rigidly enforced. Every
woman's college in the State should
own such an equipment. The Fed
Grafton of Woman's Clubs has done
much to disseminate knowledge of
hygiene and sanitation in the home.
We should frankly acknowledge this
and further encourage their work. I
believe that there is today no invest
ment which pays so well as carefully
directed sanitation. The State OF
South Carolina receives today more
lasting benefits from her appropria-
ton to the tsate board of health than
any other appropriation she makes.
how much is it? you ask. About s2O,-
600. A sum much less than the great
majority OF States expend for this
purpose. Where are the dividends
on this outlay? In every community
lives are saved by free antitoxins,
practically free treatment Of hook
worm disease, free vaccine virus, free
anti-typhoid vaccine, free treatment
for rabies and free information on all
sanitary subjects 1t is clearly con-
ceded that our board has for the past
five years done more with less money
than any other State health board IN
the United States. In conclusion and
to summarize so that we may grasp
something tangible and concrete: l
recommend, first, marriage as an IN
stitut;on conducive to a long and
healtful existence. Second, we
should pass law insuring the union
Of only the strong and healthy man
and woman. Third, we should pro-
vide for our girls specific training in
sanitary, science. Fourth, we should
encourage all the existing agencies
engaged in public health work and
specially see to it that the State ap-
propriates sufficient funds to ade-
nuoto1v sunnort its health depart