The Washington times., 1915-03-05
MARRIAGE LATE IN
LIFE CALLED MENACE
Prof. Roswell H. Johnson As.
sails Rsdtisld Theory as Set
Forth in Times.

"Encourasins later marriages in the
false hope Of getting more intelligent
offspring will hasten danger toward
which this country already is drifting
at an alarming rate.
Dances, theater going and card par
ties. and all social functions Of the sort
among young folk, are aids to eugenics.
The failure Of college women to mar
ry and have children Is killing of some
OF our best racial stock In this coun-
try
These we're a few of the statements
made last evening by Prof. Roswell II.
Johnson, Of the University of Pitts
burgh. before a mixed audience that
crowded the y. M. c. A. lecture room
y hear him talk on Young Men and
Marriage
frof. johnson assailcd the theory OF
.asper l.. ,Redfeld,, as set forth in yes
terdays Times. that later marriage
make for higher mcntalities.
,naf sfof; J2nnson ,nson is 80 sure of his ease
Gehetlc Association. prizes for names
four generations to the century.
At Least Four Needed.
Il agree with Mr.. Redheid." Prof.
johnson told his audience after citing
Ihe Times article, that lists of great
men show they were born late In the
lie of their parents. Phat is the thing
have been pointing out, this failure
OF the moro intellisent to marry at an
carly age and reproduce at n rate Of
at least four children per family.
But there Is nothing to prove that
earlier children from these same intclli-
gent people would not have shown as
high mentality. The only way that
can be studied Is by studying the earlier
Co-education was strongly indorsed by
Prot. johnson. as having shown that It
produces more marriages and earlier
marriages, than segregated colleges.
rrof; Johnson took up the question Of
the low marriage rate and lower birth
rate among graduates OF women's coll
leges, n topic that caused wide discus
SION when he presented similar figures
at a, Battle Creek lecture last year.
,..s Ms now have the figures from the
my point as conclusively as the figures
I selected said Prof. johnson. "Presi-
dent Pendleton's chart shows only 5,uU
marriages from 9.7Sl pupils. The chill
less, than one per graduate. or SO per
cent. while the children per wife only
averaged lis.
o"Ss S6S t1uO"us
"A higher average is shown from the
graduates OF Mt. Holyokc. The chill
dren per student show a ratio OF 1..y
per cent, and there was ratio OF ISi
per cent Of children per wife. The
Holyoke showing Is little better than
wellesley when II is realized that four
children per family is the minimum at
"hich a family stock can be perpetual
ed"
10 improve the chances OF proper
mating. Prof johnson recommended a
grating of the European idea OF ar.
IDEA OF romantic love-
win US the pendulum has swung
700 1ar. The European system does
not allow proper liberty for sexual Sc
tf,e young person to over-value viva citV
beauty: ready wit, and other less i'm.
portant qualities. "
We need municipal dance halls. too
70 t encourage a freer mingling OF young
i0ik: put these should be properly
supervised. A girl should know that
the qualifications for a life partner are
dinerent from those she might prefer
IN q young man with whom to spend
an evening at the theater."
'4aby bounties." as practiced in
France and urged by some in this coun-
try, were frowned upon by Prof, john
son. 10 breed children for economic
reasons. he said. would lower the quail
ity Of the breed.
Follow Confucianism.
What we need In this country" he
said. "is to follow the lead OF Con-
fucianism. and in a lesser degree the
ideal of Judaism. in making the raising
or family primary virtue. A part
OF our religion. On that all other vir-
tues depend. A man may offend in
many respects and shorten only his own
life. But if he fails to marry and re-
produce his kind he helps kill or the
race.
I'm China it is an Insult to a father
Tor a son not to marry and help main
tain the family name. We should gain
such a conception here
believe in suffrage. For one thing
I think it would lessen sex-antagonism.
But when Mrs. Gilman would take the
doll babies from the arms Of our chill
dren she is going too far The ideal or
home and children needs to be I'M
planted early In both men and women.
There are too many women today sacri-
hctng the higher duty of wifehood and
motherhood to win applause from the