Rensselaer Republican, Volume 21, Number 16, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 December 1888 — Sanitary Marriage. [ARTICLE]

Sanitary Marriage.

Dr. Stickney, in St. Louis Magazine. There are thousands of young men and women, who, by reason of their infirmities, ought never to marry. These infirmities come from our schools, on account of the absence of a proper system of physical culture. They come from illy ventilated counting rooms and factories; from foul tenements and close parlors. Pale and puny, these young men and women present every phase of bodily imperfections, —clearly proving that the first lesson that should be impressed upon growing youth, is the supreme importance of healthy bodies. No young woman is handsome unless Wealthy... The beaut y _o£ health continues to old age. The Spartans worshipped the beautiful and useful, and took means to secure them. Bodily perfection was attained by enforced, wellappointed exercise. No sickly man or woman was allowed to marry, and all in health were compelled to do so; if they refused, they were punished. Bachelors, after a certain age, were shut out from the society of women, and once a year were publicly shamed. No one was allowed to marry until full maturity waa reached. The result was for 50C years the Spartans produced the strongest and bravest men, and the most healthy and beautiful women that the world has ever seen. A little Spartanism would *be of incalculable benefit to Americans.