The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1913-09-09
tFrGm The New York Times.)

From The New York Times)
Why are t~hirty-nine out of every
one hundred male adults without
wives"
Why is the death rate Of unmarride
w ny is the death rate OF unmarried
men and women"
The primary purpose OF these aues-
tons, which were the basis Of my
brief article on "America's 1900. Oct
Unmarried Adults. was 10 direct at
tenticn 10 an important angle OF lie
conservation and Of ~eusenics which
has been more or less overlooked.
The Widespread comment through
the press and the nails which hes
followed is d hopeful sign, for 1t in
dicates the constantly increasing in
terest of The public in these questions
so vitality affecting the advancement
Of our race.
1t is noticeable, however, that few
if any Of these refer to the
positive side Of eusenics to which the
statement that we have constantly
}.00o.0 GOO unmarried women and s.
200, 600 unmarried men in the United
States might we'll invite attention.
For it is obvious that, if the millions
of the unmarried who. are physically
and mentally fit. or even a portion
of theM. We're married., our declining
| D1TtD Idto NOuIO HOl only NC 1ilcShCNt
without necessarily increasing the size
of families. but the proportion of the
physically and mentally fit among
the new lives that are being brought
into the world would be increased.
If, as many seem to think. it is nee
essary to enact drastic laws to pre-
vent the reproduction Of the uDfit, it
is surely worth while to encourage
the reproduction Of the fit from the
|Found stock alreadV here.
This is not a problem of statutory
law. but one Of natural laW-Of
moral trend, OF individual and ma
| tional conscience.
The high cost Of living is quite gen
orally given as the reason for our
great number Of unmarried people.
While this is obviously an important
factor in discouraging matrinony, it
is easy to OVereStimate this infu-
ence.
our national sin OF extravaganza,
the cultivation of expensive tastes, the
habit Of spending for present plea
gUres instead of saving for he inevi-
table rainy day and old age. the prac-
tice OI living up to and beyond our in
comes, using the high cost of living
rs an excuse for such extravaganza.
can easily be conceived to have a far
greater influence in preventing mat
rinOny than the increased cost of
necessities and ordinary comforts.
While it is interesting TO anaiyZe
,he various phases CT this problem,
/ hnal conclusions cannot safely be
based upon observation in 3 narrow
environment.
I For instance, frequent reference is
made to pliers and other wo-
J zen workers who, it is claimed prefer
. the Independence and indulgences
. which their salaries procure FOR them
TO the sacrifice necessary il they mar
\ RED Epune men receiving the same OF
= slightly larger incomes.
: While this may be true of many If
; this class, yet it must be remembered
y that the number Of work.
lHS women receiving substantial sal.
: arlSS form but a small portion OF the
s.oco:oo0 unmarried women in thu
lilies and rural districts Of our ccun
frv.
The census Shows that the nercen
tage Of Unmarried women in the tota
fet.filt>ef above the age Of fifteen i
S2.S IN urban and 2s.e in rural com
munities.
This IS a race Of national problem
We are dealing with the trend Of IN,
entire population. and to fully sras,
~ 1t we must look beyond our own i'm
mediate rounding
1t is quite generally believed thu
the average aSe 1t which people mar
il ry IS much higher now than it wa
t"en'y years ago This may be tru,
IN some localities and some conn
tries, and carefully prepared argu
menfs have been made based mo,
this conclusion in this country Al,
yet the United States census figure
'c snow Just the reverse. They sho,
a that the married portion of the ua'
q. population over the e of fifteen va
IN 1890 oi.S per cent; 1900. a. re
cent. and 1910. SIS per cent Ma
a ried women. 1890. 5e.8 per cent: 1aol
d 8 per cent. q ls1o..5s.e per cent
&C They also show an tncraa. e
number Of married men Of ~. -
fifteen to nineteen. In the ace a.
OF twenty TO twenty-four years ~
advance has been from 1873 Der oan
in 1880 to zig per cent in Han ~. .H
to - per cent IN 1910. From tvents
= i've to fh11ty-tour years from els ne