THE “IDEAL STATE.”

Hokitika Guardian, 21 October 1927, Page 3

THE “IDEAL STATE.”

A PROFESSOR’S RULES FOR

-MARRIAGE. LONDON, Sept. 7. Professor McDougall’s new book on “Character and the Conduct of Life is not the severe treatise that wc may expect from the jieii of a Fellow of the Royal Society and a former Professor in the Universities of Oxford and Harvard. He is now Professor of Psychology in the fabulously wealthy Duke University of Durham, North Carolina, which recently received an endowment of £18,000,000 from a millionaire. The author is distinctly unconventional in some of his opinions and in certain of his adore to girls and to young men. He is, lie explains, not a contemner of youth. The only serious charge I bring against the young people of to-day is that they are allowing themselves to full victims to the sterilising influences of universal mechanisation. . . In the old days it was always possible to hope that a hoy might run away to sen and spend “two years before the. mast.” But nowadays. . . if a hoy should go to sea, he could hardly get lsoyond the reach of his mother’s anxious inquiries about his underwear. POWER OF BEAUTY. Addressing girls of the present day

lie writes: When I was a youth a clever and beautiful woman assorted to me that the influence of feminine beauty is on the whole degrading. 1 did not believe it then; and I do not believe it now. The beauty of woman is a tremendously powerful influence, and, like all great forces, it may serve base or noble purpises. The mischief is that this great influence is given to the young females of the species at an early age when they cannot understand its power and the gravity of the responsibility that goes with it.

Writing on marriage, lie says; Do not believe the foolish people who tell you that marriage is a bondage imposed by man on woman for his own selfish purposes. Its raison d’etre is the protection' of women and children. Monogamous marriage is the best device that the wit of man (or of woman) has conceived for this purpose, lAtf not only iloes it protect women against men and against themselves, hut it also secures for them a much higher level in social life than any other system hitherto tried or imagined. ire next turns to the dress of girls; Woman in general will always expose as much of herself as the taste of men will permit her to do. There is no harm in this. But beware lest you make yourself a. martyr in the sacred cause of woman's freedom. . . Immodesty consists in going a little Ikivoikl the custom. If it is customary to expose three inches do not expose six. If it is customary to expose your shoulder blades, do not expose the small of your hack also. FITNESS FOR. MARRIAGE. Professor MiDougnll thinks that a great many people would do better not to marry. In his “ideal state.’’ he says: Parenthood would he regarded as a privilege permitted only to those who were well qualified in every way Inpersonal qualities and family history. T imagine that about one-half the adults of any moViern state would he regarded as disqualified if the matter were regulated by a wise regard for the happiness and welfare of the future citizens, instead of by the caprice of individuals and passing gusts of emotion.

Nor should the unhealthy marry: A girl has the right to he assured of the health and general fitness of her betrothed as far as medical .science can provide such assistance. When we have become a little more civilised, certificates of good health will he legal requirements for all marriages. Pending that time it should he the invariable practice of the betrothed couple to exchange such certificates.