THAT EUGENIC BABY.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 29, 27 September 1912, Page 8

THAT EUGENIC BABY.

Mr Philip Gibbs, the novelist, has an amusing skit in the Chronicle on “The Eugenic Bby,” in which he imagines what will happen when we are compelled to have or to bo eugenic babies! CHAPTER ONE. “The husband and wife had been married with the blessing of the Eugenics Society, by a vote carried unanimously. “The family history of the young couple had been examined as far back as the great-grandfathers and greatgrandmothers on each .side. The result of this genealogical inquiry had been declared eminently satisfactory by the executive committee.

“His father was a Professor of Economics, his paternal grandfather was a Bishop with Socialistic tendencies, his great-grandfather had written many learned treatises on the Greek gerends. His mother had been educated at Girton, his grandmother was the author of that well-known book. ‘The Biological; Aspects of Love,’ his great-grandmother had been the mistress of a school for the Sons of Gentlemen at Weston-super-Mare. CHAPTER TWO. “When the baby was born it was examined by the executive committee, who reported very favourably in theii ‘minutes.’ According to scientific law:, it had blue-grey eyes, mouse-coloured hair, and a double chin. Its cranium was remarkably well developed. “Little Frankie was of a. grave and thoughtful disposition. He looked out upon the world with wistful, wondering eyes, as though he could not quite make out why he had been horn. Unlike most babies, he seldom burst into tears, but, on the other hand, was noi often betrayed into a smile. His moral character seemed almost perfect foi so young a baba, and his intelligence was phenomenal. But he had one characteristic which alarmed his fond par ents. He had a most extraordinarj thirst. “ ‘My dear,’ said the young mother one day, after filling the bottle for the eighth time, ‘I really cannot understand it. Frankie’s thirst fill: me with uneasiness. It is unscientific. I can find no cause for it in our family history.’'

“Her husband was pulling up and down the bedroom. He was white to the lips, and beads of perspiration stood upon his cultured brow. There was a. look of such terrible anguish upon his intellectual face that his wife was startled and afraid. “ ‘Gladys,’ he said ‘We forgot my great-great-grand father! ’ “She gave a little shriek of terror, “ ‘What do yon mean, John? Oh. heavans, what is your awful meaning?’ “John spoke in a low- and tragic voice. i

“ T have just discovered,’ he said, ‘that my great-great-grandfather was a friend of the Regent. He was known as a “three-bottle man.” His thirst was remarkable even for the Georgian era.’

“John’s wife hurst into a passion of tears, and sobbed as though her heart would break. John’s groans awakened little Frankie from his morning sleep, and he immediately demanded another ‘bokkle.’ CHAPTER THREE.

“At five years of age Frankie was able to read the report of the latest Eugenic . Congress, and was able to discern the hereditary weaknesses among his little comrades. “There was a tragic episode in the family when at ten years of age Frankie flung the ‘A B C of Economics’ out of the nursery window, spilt the ink over a coloured chart depicting the ‘Progress of-ythe Human Race towards Eugenic Perfection,’ and defied his nurse when she reminded him that the Eugenic Inspector was coming to make his annual report. “Then, one day, in a moment of supreme passion, when his father and mother had rebuked him for disobedience, he threw his great-great-grand-father, as it were, at ins father’s head and said '* * What can you expect when one of my ancestors was a Georgian rake? You should have thought of this before you married my Ma. ... I didn t ask to be born!’ , “The terrible and relentless logic of this remark struck dismay into the hearts of his poor parents, and they never smiled again.”