OBLIGATION IN PARENTHOOD. 167 



have some deformity. They will know by experience 

 that these children will in their turn have children 

 like themselves, and the wonderful benefit to the race 

 which would result from the selection of the strongest 

 in mind and body as race producers will of necessity 

 follow. It would then be possible to develop a strong 

 public feeling against any marriages contracted by 

 obviously sickly people, for the suffering which may 

 be inflicted by producing sickly offspring may 

 reasonably be urged against those who would other- 

 wise be willing to gratify their convenience or personal 

 predilection, and perhaps eventually this might lead 

 to prohibition of such marriages. It should be 

 pointed out that temperaments, and moral and mental 

 qualities, are transmitted just as surely as physical 

 traits ; that all, in fact, of the qualities of the future 

 race will depend upon those which are blended to- 

 gether to-day in parenthood. It follows, therefore, 

 that the greatest of all responsibilities is taken by the 

 assumption of parenthood, and everyone may well 

 ask himself or herself, before undertaking it, Will the 

 world be better for any more of me ? 



The End and Aim of Marriage. 



To-day we are apt to be cautious before marrfage; 

 we are very keen to be assured on the question of 

 dowry, and one hears of private inquiry as to money 



