Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-06-20
DR.. Hall on
Rural Conditions

III t6TITuue I1dll, super NlSCi VI
the state Board Of Childrens Guar
dams, in speaking Monday of moral
conditions in rural New England, said
that between two and three per cent of
births in rural New England are lille
ultimate and that Maine seems to have
the lowest rate and Vermont the high
est.
In order to study illegitimacy in
rural Maine, 100 cases were invcst-
gated continued DR.. Hall.
Tho tabulatcd results were quite
similar to those obtained in Massachu-
rcau. hut in Maine the death rate of
ill"gitimate children is lower.
The medium age of the mothers Is 20
years. and on2-fourth of the putative
fathers are married mon. onc-half of
the infants remain with their mothers,
j. IL per cent of whom we'd within
ynar,--more often another man than
Most of the ioo mothers visited
were living normal lives and were not
ScCretivc. In general their families
were hcfriending them, and onc-hfth
had received financial aid from the
fathers of their children.
The investigators stood ready to
help these mothers and infants, but
mostly they did not need il. One girl,
the victim of incest. was removed from
her home. two bad characters were
sent to the State Rcformatory and six
infants were taken into custody.
About four-fifths Of unmarried
mothers do not repeat their offence.
Renoaters comprise moral delinquents
and mental detectives who need sur
Ncill3nCe o. ScCucStration.
In regard TO the prevalence OF We
nercal disease ] have no figures to
compare the past with the present. but
family physicians assure me we are
MAX headway. In Maine social dis
eases are rcportable and treatment can
be compelled.
with only c25 illegitimate births a
year in Maine and relatively small
number in the other New England
states. we ought to be able to take
steps to lessen iliegitimacy and to as
sl>t the unmarried mothers who need
protection.
TO this end We should view illegi-
timaCN III the right erspectiNc.-hio-
logically and morally. Nature has
placed IN each human being an instinct
TO Weld to a r1atc of the opposite sex.
10 the end that tho race may be per-
netuated. Biol 1gicaily it is right and
natural to Weld to this imperious long
ing. Under the towering Of love our
youth attain their greatest beauty and
sttraCtivcuess. The mating instinct
is far older and racially more funda-
mental than the moral law.
Young folks establish sex friend
ships by eXcrting charm or allurement
Of manner. Then when mutual attrac-
ton is established A chance touch or
u draft of dcep emotional bliss, thrills
A the pulses and the electric current of
passion is turned on.
This is the moment Of danger. for
passion is dominant. all absorbing; It
hints out caution and forethought. pru-
dnnce and even self-preservation. 1t
denand with dramatic insistence tho
fuifllment of cur racial duty. the prop
agation of the race. 1t is Nature s
trick TO make Us parents.
Before our young folks are ready
for sclf-support. before they have left
their class rooms, this turbulent. pri-
nordial emotion. the most tremendous
experience in life. is likely to befall
them. 1t has been said that most
women have their supreme love affair
before they are 20.
The problem Of parents and guar
dams is to guide this powerful influ-
cnce. not thwart It, Mid Victorian re-
preston and prudery. which denied
and debased passionate love were as
extreme and damaging TO beautiful
and holy affections as is the present
wild freedom of iappers. their vulgar
physical contacts with their partners.
and their flamboyant emotionalism. We
who are responsible for the happiness
between the Caryhdis Of repression
and the Cylla of freedom. We should
adopt the Greek motto. nothing in ex-
cess a principle which motivated the
best Greek art and Hellenic culture.
Now that our young folks enjoy SO
much liberty il is needful to teach
them early the laws of life and repro
\ duction as we'll as moral precepts
based on the age-old experience of the
their own balance between physical
propensity and moral obligation. And
aah 0AcidA- EhilA THAR heada ara