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
3. NOBLEST JEALOUSY.--The noblest jealousy, if the term noble is
appropriate, is a sort of ambition or pride of the loving person who
feels it is an insult that another one should assume it as possible to
supplant his love, or it is the highest degree of devotion which sees
a declaration of its object in the foreign invasion, as it were, of
his own altar. Jealousy is always a sign that a little more wisdom
might adorn the individual without harm.
4. THE LOWEST JEALOUSY.--The lowest species of jealousy is a sort of
avarice of envy which, without being capable of love, at least wishes
to possess the object of its jealousy alone by the one party assuming
a sort of property right over the other. This jealousy, which might
be called the Satanic, is generally to be found with old withered
"husbands," whom the devil has prompted to marry young women and who
forthwith dream night and day of cuck-old's horns. These Argus-eyed
keepers are no longer capable of any feeling that could be called
love, they are rather as a rule heartless house-tyrants, and are in
constant dread that some one may admire or appreciate his unfortunate
slave.
5. WANT OF LORE.--The general conclusion will be that jealousy is more
the result of wrong conditions which cause uncongenial unions, and
which through moral corruption artificially create distrust than a
necessary accompaniment of love.
[Illustration: SEEKING THE LIFE OF A RIVAL.]
6. RESULT OF POOR OPINION.--Jealousy is a passion with which those are
most afflicted who are the least worthy of love. An innocent maiden
who enters marriage will not dream of getting jealous; but all her
innocence cannot secure her against the jealousy of her husband if he
has been a libertine. Those are wont to be the most jealous who have
the consciousness that they themselves are most deserving of jealousy.
Most men in consequence of their present education and corruption have
so poor an opinion not only of the male, but even of the female sex,
that they believe every woman at every moment capable of what they
themselves have looked for among all and have found among the most
unfortunate, the prostitutes. No libertine can believe in the purity
of woman; it is contrary to nature. A libertine therefore cannot
believe in the loyalty of a faithful wife.
7. WHEN JUSTIFIABLE.--There may be occasions where jealousy is
justifiable. If a woman's confidence has been shaken in her husband,
or a husband's confidence has been shaken in his wife by certain signs
or conduct, which have no other meaning but that of infidelity, then
there is just cause for jealousy. There must, however, be certain
proof as evidence of the wife's or husband's immoral conduct.
Imaginations or any foolish absurdities should have no consideration
whatever, and let everyone have confidence until his or her faith has
been shaken by the revelation of absolute facts.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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