one who appears normal. The sterile would marry the
sterile, and the fertile the fertile. Even in our civilization what
right has anyone to doom his partner to a childless marriage? The
overwhelming majority of people want children. Only the highly
exceptional and pitiable woman is without this desire. The normal man
feels it almost as strongly as the woman when once the little hand of
his own child clasps his finger. Of course unforeseen conditions may
unexpectedly make one partner to a marriage sterile, but that is another
matter and by no means prevents a happy marriage. In certain cases, too,
it may be allowable for a fertile partner to marry one who is known to
be sterile. That should never happen, however, without the fullest
knowledge on the part of both, and without full time to think the matter
over quietly and in complete freedom from the emotional strain caused by
the loved one's frequent presence.

Many childless marriages are rendered not only happy but very useful to
society by the adoption of children. It should always be remembered that
from the standpoint not only of family life but of old age and of
society in general, children are the most important result of marriage.

The worst forms of unfitness for marriage are hereditary, but some
hereditary defects are mild, some terrible. There is much doubt as to
whether many defects are hereditary or are the result of unfavorable
conditions during pregnancy and early infancy. Far too much emphasis is
placed upon external and easily visible defects in comparison with
internal ones which cannot be so readily detected. Such minor hereditary
defects as hare lip or misshaped fingers do not necessarily indicate
unfitness for marriage. They are far less dangerous than hereditary
susceptibility to diseases such as diabetes or weakness of the heart,
which lead to unhappy marriages by reason of frequent illness or early
death. A hereditary tendency toward short-sightedness or defective
teeth, on the contrary, may permit the longest and happiest of
marriages. All inherited defects are regrettable, but practically no one
is free from them in some minor form.

The sensible attitude toward minor hereditary defects is to balance
their real importance against both the good and the bad qualities shown
not only by the individual but by his brothers, sisters, parents, and
other relatives. Conscientious sufferers from visible defects of any
kind are apt to overestimate their i