The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-03-01
Thinks the Bearing d
Children Least Inn
portant and the Unit
ing Of Two "Perfeci
Physical Specimens,''
Without Affection, an
Absurdity and {
Menace---The Human
Stock Show

ana Mrs. Harold BOlce. who to prepared
for perfect eugene baby. visited fa.l
nous men, engaging in high brow con-.
rersation and the discussion Of I'D.
vanced' philosophy. and in addition-sol
that the child might not be born without
a sense OF humor-also talked with hu.
morists. including Jerome X. Jeromsl
| and vaudeville performers. II. G. Wells
| has repudiated his participation In this
| gabfest preparation for "Eugenetta,"
as the baby has been called Mr.. wellsl
has disclaimed any belief in this Gu.
| genie scheme. With Mr. Wells I com.
miserate with the misfortune Of anyl
"Eugenetta' 50 prepared for.
II they are truly in love I consider
| the marriage Of two cripples or 81
healthy man and consumptiNe woman
| more ideal than eugenic marriage be- |
tween lady dumbbell holster and aI
| strong arm man.
II people are genuinely in love dis.
ease is matter of no consequence. no
bar to their union. We often see al
woman marrying weak. consumptivs
man. 1t is part Of human nature for
the strong to support the weak this
| law holds in marriage. The self-im.
violating care Of a loving woman for Q
| man suffering from tuberculosis the
unselfsh solicitude lavished by a man
upon an invalid wife are more beautiful
than two healthy people not in love
deliberately mating for the purpose Of
| creating a child. Devotion is one of the
most beautiful things In life
have said that perfect children often
come from the most unsupported
sources. For. mark this-and this dis
proves the whole eugenic propa uganda:
| A child is not the product of it's father
and mother: of merely two human be-
| inus. IL Is the result Of thousands Of
generatlons-of all the prosecutors who
have gone before ii.
None OF us knows our family tree.
the ramifications OF It's roots through
generations and the processes that re-
suit in our individual selves. our tenn
peraments and characteristics, our
| beauty or uginess, our weakness or
strength, our briliance OF mentality or
dulness are not the work Of our par
ents; to a degree our parents influence
us. We are, however. the concentrated
production Of thousands Of lives
through thousands o. years. The best
qualities that come down To us arc
brought out by being born OF a pas
sionate union OF the fire OF love. Chill
dren thus born will inherit the nobler
| qualities rather than the defects ~ their
parents and their parents progenitors.
one child thus born, even IL physi-
caly under par but mentally brilliant.
Is worth a dozen beautiful. strong
bodied but mentally obtuse eugenic chill
dren.
We are evolving toward a higher
marriage relation and a better race.
This will not come about through eu-
genics; not by picking out prospective
parents as bulls and sheep are picked.
selecting them for admirable physical
| qualities. 1t will come about by in
dividual development, mental and physi-
cal
II individuals have disease let them
try to cure themselves. II people are
physically weak let them exercise and
Engage in athletics. believe that phys
ical development Of this sort In
all important. Athletics are the best
preparation for marriage There is .
tendency to-day for those who work in
the city to live in the country. Men
nrage more than ever in outdoor sports,
golf. tennis and other games. The
BOY Scout movement starts boys thus.
Such n movement is more valuable than
all the scheduled schemes Of eugenists-
We have reached that stage Of spiritual
evolution where we can control the body.
With this. marriage should. more than
ever. DE based on the attraction Of mind
to mind.
II two people love each other.
whether they hc physically perfect or
not, they will marry. and should not DO
prevented from marrying.
Let the giant Of man marry tiny
wisp ot "A woman. Let IA" huge
woman marry mite Of man. This
il as il should be. Let them follow
the law of dissimilarity.
Many celebrated folk. such as Col.
Roosevelt. advocate big families. IL
people want children let them have
children II not, that is their own husi-
ness and it is no ones concern to
criticise.
Percentage should be optonal-not
obligatory.
We have passed beyond mechanically
obeying the old Scriptural command OF
populatinS the earth. We have become.
and should he, individuals. People
who do not want children would prob
ably make bad parents and their at
titudo be adverse to the growth and
development Of unwelcom" sons and
daughters. | do not think this is a
| DIhhltU1 SU1ltltHtlS WIN
which even to concern ourselves al
though it is OF course III" backbone OF
eugcnics
| But then cuGenics is simply tho
theory applied to the rearing OF race
horses to human beings. Racchorses
are for no good except racing, Human
beings are more than animals. Any
principle relating TO arbitrary breeding
on a physical basis will inevitably prove
degcnerating rather than uplifting TO
| the race,
The eugenists do not as all faddists,
agree among themselves. som" adNo-
cate the mating of sane poopl" with the
insane, the defective with the normal,
and even--so the opposite strains may
miX"--thc mating Of whites and blacks
All this is to he done on a scientific, un-
emotional basis, Imagine a sane man
being arbitrarily married to mentally
defective woman in order that they may
bring forth a perfect child, ar white
woman married to a negro so the child
NAV inherit "the better qualities such