234 



THE TREND OF THE RACE 



status, but the general tendency it exhibits is in harmony with 

 much other evidence. 



The average ages of the first marriage in different classes in 

 Copenhagen for the years 1878-1882 are given by Rubin and 

 Westergaard as follows: 



Age of Marriage According to Occupation in Copenhagen 



The diverse tendencies exhibited in sexual selection among 

 human beings render it difficult to estimate the nature of its 

 influence. There has been no comprehensive study in any 



. community of the eugenic worth of those who marry as compared 

 with those who do not marry. Such a study in several communi- 

 ties of different social and economic levels would doubtless yield 

 results of much interest and value. We know that many persons 



( remain unmarried on account of various forms of congenital 



inferiority or defect both in mind and body. It is probable that 

 a much larger proportion of our population are coming to remain 

 unmarried because they wish to be economically independent, or 

 free to follow their own lines of interest, or because their ideals of 

 a life partner are so high that they have never found the person 

 whom they would consent to marry. Are the fine types of hu- 

 manity who now remain single compensated for by those whose 

 natural inferiority or undesirability prevents them from marry- 

 ing? There is little evidence that such is the case. At present 

 it is very doubtful if the net result of sexual selection is in the 

 direction of racial improvement. ^ 

 * "The marrying class is nowadays the class that lacks the physiological qual- 



