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
15. BAD SOCIETY.--Much of our modern society admits libertines and
seducers to the drawing-room, while it excludes their helpless and
degraded victims, consequently it is not strange that there are
skeletons in many closets, matrimonial infelicity and wayward girls.
16. "'KNOW THYSELF,'" says Dr. Saur, "is an important maxim for us
all, and especially is it true for girls.
"All are born with the desire to become attractive girls especially
want to grow up, not only attractive, but beautiful. Some girls
think that bright eyes, pretty hair and fine clothes alone make them
beautiful. This is not so. Real beauty depends upon good health, good
manners and a pure mind.
"As the happiness of our girls depends upon their health, it behoves
us all to guide the girls in such a way as to bring forward the best
of results.
17. "THERE IS NO ONE who stands so near the girl as the mother. From
early childhood she occupies the first place in the little one's
confidence she laughs, plays, and corrects, when necessary, the faults
of her darling. She should be equally ready to guide in the important
laws of life and health upon which rest her future. Teach your
daughters that in all things the 'creative principle' has its source
in life itself. It originates from Divine life, and when they know
that it may be consecrated to wise and useful purposes, they are never
apt to grow up with base thoughts or form bad habits. Their lives
become a happiness to themselves and a blessing to humanity.
18. TEACH WISELY.--"Teach your daughters that _all life_ originates
from a seed a germ. Knowing this law, you need have no fears that base
or unworthy thoughts of the reproductive function can ever enter their
minds. The growth, development and ripening of human seed becomes a
beautiful and sacred mystery. The tree, the rose and all plant life
are equally as mysterious and beautiful in their reproductive life.
Does not this alone prove to us, conclusively, that there is a
Divinity in the background governing, controlling and influencing our
lives? Nature has no secrets, and why should we? None at all. The only
care we should experience is in teaching wisely.
"Yes lead them wisely teach them that the seed, the germ of a new
life, is maturing within them. Teach them that between the ages of
eleven and fourteen this maturing process has certain physical signs.
The breasts grow round and full, the whole body, even the voice,
undergoes a change. It is right that they should be taught the natural
law of life in reproduction and the physiological structure of their
being. Again we repeat that these lessons should be taught by the
mother, and in a tender, delicate and confidential way. Become, oh,
mother, your daughter's companion, and she will not go elsewhere for
this knowledge which must come to all in time, but possibly too late
and through sources that would prove more harm than good.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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