The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1916-09-21
A Eugenic Marriage
Proposal
By r. A. MICHEL


exercises at Smith. Both took prizes
for scientific essays.
"I'm almost sorry" she said, that
I went to college"
"Why soT'
well, before entering had some
pride in myself as human being.
regarded our species a little lower than
the angels Now l know that am
merely a fertilization Of atoms, built
to resist an enemy of microbes"
"You mean various microbic en-
emies."
Eyes"
But you don't wish to be conquered
by any of these armies. I suppose"
mo, don't
IF we are to consider ourselves forti-
ications we may take a certain inter
est In ourselves as such. We are
links In an endless chain of human
beings. Our ancestors ages ago began
to fight microbes that we might exist
In our present shape; shape superior
to theirs. Should one not be inter
ested. indeed should 1t not be our duty
to take measures that our descendants
should be superior to us? Certainly not
inferiorf'
You mean I'm a eugenic senseT
I'm part. A criminal should resist a
predisposition to crime"
"How can he, since he Is nothing
more than what his molecules have
made himi"
Granted. Is 1t not then his duty as
molecular fertilization to strengthen
the weak spots I'm his descendantsT'
81 presume so. But how can he do
this without reducing himself to the
level OF stock farm principles?'
"He may still be climber to greater
heights. Are not morals and intellect
hereditary
She admitted this. and he went on:
Marriage based upon love alone is
not conducive to an advancing condi
ton Of race. Take a hundred such
cases aud compare them with as many
based ON monetary provision for a
family, good health on both sides and
normal intellect on the part of the ia
ther'-
And mother"
comparing the descendants Of the
first with the second hundred marriages
one gets very different results. Those of
the firstIre much inferior to those of
the second
But the romance. or, rather, the alb
sence of it?'
Romance is an unimportant, evanes-
cent condition. Take our alma ma
ter. Can one get better education
In Dartmouth or Wellesley than at
Brown or Smith because the former
have high sounding namesT'
Nevertheless | have wished that
Miss Smith, who founded my alma ma
ter, had been Miss Cholmondeley."
at would not have helped the matter.
The students would have called the col
lege Chumley. And II Nicholas Brown
had been Taliaferro the boys would
have shouted for Tolifer."
"And yet would not your illustration
have been as effective in the words, "A
rose by any other name would smell as
SWEET"
True. And what am about to say
to you has been said more beautifully
by many lover than ! shall say 1t.
But one should remember that the lover
may have been scrofulous and the lady
of his love had weak heart"
Couldn't you name defect. leaving
out the heart entirely?"
IL could, but you and act our parts
In an age when the world has awaken
ed TO the fact that science is a better
presiding deity on engagements than
cupid. Marriages have been made for
various reasons beside love. | am
thankful that | live in period where
In science is preparing the way for
race Of beings far superior to any the
world has known"
And | suppose lovers proposal to
a maiden will no longer be foreshadow.
ed by gifts Of lovely fiOwers?"
Instead. he will ask for a list Of dis
eases hereditary In her family, and
upon receiving 1t will furnish list Of
those In his own blood"
us there to be no expression of af-
fectionY'
mot until the catalogue of diseases
has been examined by the physicians
Of both families, and II has been de-
cided that In this and all other re-
spects marriage would not be to de-
teriorate but TO elevate the race. When
all is settled transports viii be In or.
der"
II see II the transports came first,
In case the physicians report was ad-
verse. the lovers would need to be un.
transported"
Exactly"
There was silence between them for
a time. when he added: -
MAY l be honored by permission 70
call upon your family physician for an
exchange OF our pedigreesT'
This Is very sudden. May l not
have time 10 considerT'
Certainly. but there Is nothing bind
ing IN these prellminaries."
Il see. Your request Is granted"
A week later he called upon her.
She fell into his arms with a sob. He
drew her 20 him with sigh OF relief.
Thank heavenr she whispered. 1T
was feared that a case OF insanity had
been discovered In my greatuncle. 10
turned out that he was only a klepto
maniac"