EUGENICS

White Ribbon, Volume 19, Issue 228, 18 June 1914, Page 14

EUGENICS

(To the Editor.) Madam, Your correspondent “Dodo” has used an exceedingly defective analogy in criticism of some of my remarks on the above subject, and the suggestion that my argument would make all play and all amusement wrong is a grotesque perversion of the whole tenor of my paper. First, <a> to the analogy. The cor rect statement would be that the feet and legs are given for locomotion, the exact style of the locomotion being that which is suited to the occasion and the necessities of the individual, counting pleasure or amusement amongst the necessities. Hut in locomotion, as in every other human function, the primary object is use, not pleasure, the latter being merely the secondary object. In regard to this, compare the function of nutrition. Now, in speaking of the use of the instinct of reproduction, 1 did not say that any pleasure arising out of its use was wrong, but that it was not given to be perverted into a means of physical enjoyment. In other words, that pleasure was not to be the primary object of its use, as is too often the case nowadays. From which initial mistake arises the murder of the unborn life, the terrible wreck of the maternal organs in innumerable casts the tragedy of the “fallen sister/' the blighted lives of men and wo nen, and too often of the children, upon whom has descended with unerring effect the result of the violation of the first commandment, “Thou shalt have no other Gods but Me,” that is, that right, and not pleasure, >hall be the object of our life. The mistake of the present idea of pleasure first—in sex a* in other matters —is that in putting pleasure first we lose even that pleasure which we would otherwise attain, and our sated palates find the hoped-for pleasure to be but dead sea fruit.

Your correspondent argues that exercise is necessary. “Dodo” must be aware —or should have been, be fore writing on the subject —that the reproductive organs are practically the only ones that do not lose their efficiency by lack of use. On the contrary, it is excessive use—the use for pleasure which “Dodo” commends—that is at the root of many of the ills of men and women to-day, whose physique is weakened by the excessive use of that which should be conserved as a fountain of energy. Your correspondent has probably become confused between the result of disuse on function, and on desire. Disuse of function in this case does not weaken the organs, -js On the contrary, it

strengthens them for legitimate use; but disuse may and will weaken desire for excessive enjoyment or for pleasure above all, and in the weakening of that desire humankind will lose one of its most tormenting ills. With “Dodo’s” advocacy of early marriage 1 am in hearty accord, but 1 must take exception to the suggestion that “excitation” is necessary to induce women to undertake the duties of motherhood. I believe that in every normal woman—and they are the vast majority- there is a deep ineradicable willingness and desire to become the mother of children to the man of her heart’s desire, and that when she is freed from many of the conventional fetters of the present day, she will not less willingly (as some fear), but more gladly bear children, not in temporary excitation, but in deep maternal exultation, the exultation that remembers no more the pain for joy that a human being, in the image and likeness of the Creator, has been born into the world.—l am, etc., NELLIE BEN DEL Y.

(To the Editor.) Dear Madam,—ln your last issue of the “White Ribbon” is a letter signed “Dodo.” Would you kindly allow me a few lines in reply to it? I was verv sorry to see the sentiments expressed in u. Mrs Bendely’s paper was a fine appeal to the individual to do all that in them lies for the betterment of the race in one very practical way, and the paragraph quoted was very true. Man is the only creature on the earth, in so far as 1 know, who abuses this instinct as he does. It is a poor simile to speak of the other organs of the body not being used in the way mentioned—rightly used, our work and the recreation of sport or walking, keeps all parts of the body in good health. Whether either men or women marry young or in middle lifv, if they have lived useful, industrious lives, they will not be rendered constitutionally unlit for the duties of marriage; neither will the utmost purity of thought or spiritual aspirations ever prevent them having c hildren. Rather will those children be born of the best possible conditions, for their physical and moral wellbeing. Take a few lines from the splendid article on “Woman and Labour,” compiled by Miss Roberts, in the last “\\hite Ribbon”: "It the woman who sets the standard of the race. Only an able and labouring womanhood can permanently produce an able and labouring manhood. Only an effete and inactive manhood can ultimately be produced by aa effete artd inactive womanhood.”

This is why all women should hold high ideals to develop the spiritual life, and why they should hold hi eh ideals to develop the physical body, because for the highest good the lat ter is necessary to the former; also

becau>e as mothers we are laying the foundations of the race to come.

It has been a well known fact all through the ages that our husbands and sons look to us for their moral standard. Even if all are not capable of realising the value of high ideals, it is a rare exception which does not respect them and value them when seem, even if they will not allow their appreciation to be known, and one never knows how far their influence may flow. It seems hard, also, in many ways that woman, who is physically weaker, should have “to set the standard of the race.” But may be “in her weakness lies her strength.” True it is that in weakness we find strength. Every hand in the world is wanted that can do a little genuine sincere work. Browning says; “Life is good because it is full of problems and difficulties and temptations. For in them a man goes to prove his soul.” 1 quite agree that we should have all the innocent pleasure we can get; hut it must be innocent, or else we will go backwards instead of forwards, and it is one of the laws of Nature that we cannot stand still. W e must go one way or the other. It were good did we realise and feel that we each have a character to mould and form. Better to ever strive to cultivate the good within each one of us, and by so doing let the evil die.—l am, efc., I. HAMILTON.

(To the Editor.) Madam,—ln the “White Ribbon” of May iSth I noticed a letter signed “Dodo.” From my point of view “Dodo” ha> not followed the argument set up to its logical conclusion. Apparently “Dodo” is a man, or, if not, a woman below the standard of my ideal woman. Presuming that “Dodo” is a male, I would like to see him carry his reasoning a little further, and see where it would land him. If all parts of our anatomy were given for a certain purpose and were only used for that purpose, they would waste away! Does one’s stomach waste away because we use it for digesting food, and do not make an amusement of it? Do our lungs waste away because we don’t have orcathing games? Does the heart get weak because we don’t have “heart beat” competitions? Do the lower animals use their sexual organs for fun, as we use our limbs for fun ? If your “Dodo” will read that wellwritten hook by Dr. Keith, “The Marriage* Law,” he might get some knowledge which will help him to keep his vital force in resenre, and not waste it in pleasures which eventually destroy health and happiness. If I had the time at my disposal I would enlarge upon the question, and point out how closely our moral wellbeing is related to our methods of

living, and how sexual desires may be controlled by correct diet. Hoping that your noble work in the interests of h”n:anitv will prosper, and that yo,.»r campaign against the moral canter which is eating out the life of the race will be victorious.—l am, etc., A LOVER OF HUMANITY.

(To the Editor.) Dear Madam,—Please allow me to correct an omission in the Convention minutes, on page four of the Convention number of “White Ribbon.” My notice of motion included organising Treasurers as well as Organisers.—l am, etc., M. S. POWELL, Vice-President W’.C.T.U. of N.Z.