"Mental Efficiency And Other Hints to Men and Women"

How could it be otherwise? If a man goes against inclination and convenience in a matter where inclination is of the essence of the contract," he merely presents the state with a discontented citizen (if not two) in exchange for a contented one!

The happiness of the state is the sum of the happiness of all its citizens; to decrease one's own happiness, then, is a singular way of doing one's duty to the state! Do you imagine that when people married early and much they did so from a sense of duty to the state -- a sense of duty which our modern luxury has weakened?

I imagine they married simply because it suited 'em. They married from sheer selfishness, as all decent people do marry.

And do those who clatter about the duty of marriage kiss the girls of their hearts with an eye to the general welfare? I can fancy them saying, "My angel, I love you -- from a sense of duty to the state.

Let us rear innumerable progeny -- from a sense of duty to the state." How charmed the girls would be!

If the marrying age changes, if the birth-rate shows a sympathetic tendency to follow the death-rate (as it must -- see "X"), no one need be alarmed. Elementary principles of right and wrong are not trembling on their bases.

The human conscience is not silenced. The nation is not going to the dogs. Conduct is adjusting itself to new conditions, and that is all.

We may not be able to see exactly how conditions are changing; that is a detail; our descendants will see exactly; meanwhile the change in our conduct affords us some clew.

And although certain nervous persons do get alarmed, and do preach, and do "take measures," the rest of us may re- main placid in the sure faith that measures" will avail nothing whatever.

If there are two things set high above legislation, movements," crusades, and preaching, one is the marrying age and the other is the birth-rate.

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