Searchlights on Health: The Science of EugenicsJefferis, B. G. (Benjamin Grant)
Philosophy
Searchlights on Health: The Science of Eugenics
Jefferis, B. G. (Benjamin Grant)
Eugenics; Hygiene; Marriage; Medicine, Popular; Sexual ethics
7. MARRYING TALKERS.--In marrying a wit or a talker merely, though
the brilliant scintillations of the former, or the garrulity of the
latter, may amuse or delight you for the time being, yet you will
derive no permanent satisfaction from these qualities, for there will
be no common bond of kindred feeling to assimilate your souls and hold
each spell-bound at the shrine of the other's intellectual or moral
excellence.
8. THE SECOND WIFE.--Many men, especially in choosing a second wife,
are governed by her own qualifications as a housekeeper mainly, and
marry industry and economy. Though these traits of character are
excellent, yet a good housekeeper may be far from being a good wife.
A good housekeeper, but a poor wife, may indeed prepare you a good
dinner, and keep her house and children neat and tidy, yet this is but
a part of the office of a wife; who, besides all her household duties,
has those of a far higher order to perform. She should soothe you with
her sympathies, divert your troubled mind, and make the whole family
happy by the gentleness of her manners, and the native goodness of her
heart. A husband should also likewise do his part.
9. DO NOT MARRY A MAN WITH A LOW, FLAT HEAD; for, however fascinating,
genteel, polite, tender, plausible or winning he may be, you will
repent the day of your espousal.
10. HEALTHY WIRES AND MOTHERS.--Let girls romp, and let them range
hill and dale in search of flowers, berries, or any other object of
amusement or attraction; let them bathe often, skip the rope, and take
a smart ride on horseback; often interspersing these amusements with
a turn of sweeping or washing, in order thereby to develop their vital
organs, and thus lay a substantial physical foundation for becoming
good wives and mothers. The wildest romps usually make the best wives,
while quiet, still, demure, sedate and sedentary girls are not worth
having.
11. SMALL STATURE.--In passing, I will just remark, that good size is
important in wives and mothers. A small stature is objectionable in a
woman, because little women usually have too much activity for their
strength, and, consequently, feeble constitutions; hence they die
young, and besides, being nervous, suffer extremely as mothers.
12. HARD TIMES AND MATRIMONY.--Many persons, particularly young men,
refuse to marry, especially "these hard time," because they cannot
support a wife in the style they wish. To this I reply, that a good
wife will care less for the style in which she is supported, than for
you. She will cheerfully conform to your necessities, and be happy
with you in a log-cabin. She will even help you support yourself.
To support a good wife, even if she have children, is really less
expensive than to board alone, besides being one of the surest means
of acquiring property.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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