Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-01-21
"POLYGAMY SEQUEL
OF WORLD WARP"
Will Germany Repeat Practices
After the Thirty Years War?
Will World Follow?
LEToMEN the civilized world over are pre-


w pairing to block any suggestion that post.
beilum polygamy be resorted 70 to repeopie
the depopulated nations. The suggestion
comes from a Prussian pubiiclst, who has
written a treatise 70 prove 70 German women
that not only economic but religious reasons
Justify the bearing OF children fathered by
other men than their husbands.
Statecraft as warrant for polygamy is
nothing new in German history. Former AM
bassador Gerard, in his My Four Years IN
Germany" writes:
To the outsider the Germans seem
fierce and martial nation But in realty
the mass of the Germans, in consenting 20
the great sacrifice entailed by their enor-
nous preparations for war, have been
actuated by fear.
This fear dates from the Thirty Years
War. In 1915 when the Treaty Of West
philadelphia was concluded. Germany was
almost a desert. It's population had fallen
from 2O,OOO,0Oo to 100000.
The few remaining people were so
starved that Cannibalism was openly prac-
tlced. In the German states polygamy
was legalized and was a recognized institu-
tion for many years thereafter
What Schiller Says
Mr. Gerard's assertion is, Of course, con-
lrmed by the record, both as to cannibalism
and polygamy.
Schiller in his celebrated Thirty Years
WAR an authoritative chronicle Of the IT,
tanic struggle involving all Europe for
generation, which was the nearest prototype
Of the present world conflict substantiates
both charges. The article on the Thirty
Years War in the Historians History Of the
World based largely on the work Of Schiller
states: In Francouia, which, owing TO its
central position, had been trayersed by every
party during the war, the misery and depopu-
lation had reached TO such a pitch that the
Franconian estates CDarllament), with the
assent Of the ecclesiastical princes, abolished
u65o) the celibacy Of the clergy and per-
mitted each man 70 marry two wives on ac-
count Of the numerical superiority Of the
women over the men"
The same cy6opedc work, constituted Of
the writings Of the best contemporary his
torlans' chronicles the fact that cannballsm
prevailed particularly during certain of the
notable sieges, such as those OF Magdeburg
and Breisach one passage referring to be-
requirements Of 1898, ten years before the
termination Of the strife that left exhausted
not oIIE Germany, but all Europe from
france to Russia and from Turkey 70 Sweden
so widespread was the radius Of the con-
Nlct though the scene was mainly I'm Ger
many-may be quoted: when ali the pro-
visions mad been consumed the unfortunate
people had recourse TO the most unnatural
anu ioathsome articles Of diet. Rats and mIce
became articles Of luxury. Not until the last
10, I'p'e extremity was reached and cauni-
pallsm became repeated among a ponuIaca
driven 70 hunger and despair ala the com
mahders surrender their cities.
on this topic William Stearns Davis. pro-
fessor Of history in the University Of Min
nesota in his History Of Medieval and Mod
ern Europe writes: Famine followed dev-
astatiOn. There were well-authenticated
cases OF canniballsm. It Is asserted that the
population Of Germany was 1000, 900 when
the war began and only 100000 when IL
ended In certain districts II was actually
proposed that every man be required 70
marry two wives 70 care for the unprotected
women"
4 quaint sidclight on Prussianism and can
nibalism is thrown in an interview with
Henry Guy Walters. the Sage Of Langhorne
where he conducts the plant research bureau.
This unique personality offers an interest
ing demonstration Of the carnivorousness OF
the Prussan cthnic stock on an evolutionary
basis.
"A scientific examination Of 1000 Prussau-
German officers tceth--fang teeth-may show
that the Prussian' German Is atavisticaIlv
carnivOrous, not herbivorous," says the presi-
idcnt Of the Plant Research Bureau.