MARRIAGE OF COUSINS

Evening Star, Issue 23055, 6 September 1938, Page 11

MARRIAGE OF COUSINS

SOUND INHERITANCE NECESSARY When two cousins fall in love and the question of their marriage is referred to their elders, the usual reply’ is, “ Surely you don’t want to run the risk of defective children? ” Perhaps they are perfectly ready to take the risk. In due time the babies appear, all the relatives pronounce them satisfactory and everyone is satisfied. In a large proportion of cases, however, the confidence of the cousins is sufficiently shaken to make them seek advice (writes Paul Poponoe). Clearly the public still lacks that understanding which biologists have of the result of cousin marriage. It ia still largely dominated by the ignorant, if not superstitious, views of the past. In the past, marriage between closely related persons has been regarded as undesirable, if not immoral. From blood relationships the tabu was often extended to other relationships. A step-child, adopted child, or godchild might be regarded as kin. Sometimes, as in China, merely possessing the same name acted as a barrier, a serious circumstance in China, where most of the population shares about 100 common surnames. Christian civilisation tended to make the bars even higher than among many primitive peoples. In England the law which prohibited a man from marrying his deceased wife's sister was not repealed until 1907, after a bitter controversy. Many American States still forbid by law the marriage of first cousins; Oklahoma extends the prohibition to second cousins.

On the other hand, in many instances much closer marriages than those of first cousins have been tolerated or approved. Among the ancient Hebrews, Sarah was Abraham’s halfsister, and Moses sprang from the union of a nephew and bis paternal aunt. Neither Moses nor Isaac, products as they wore of unions that would now be described as incestuous, can be described as bad recommendation for the system. They were vigorous and able men.