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Show ONLY THE HEAtTHY AND WISE SHOULD MARRY At Catlin, 111., certain women have formodj a "mothers' protective association" as-sociation" for the purpose of watching watch-ing tho eligible young men of the town and recording tholr practices and exploits In so far as these bctir IH on matrimony. j The "card index" plan thus applied 'H may bo carried to absurd lengths and H may utterly ridiculous. But we hopo jH the Catlin mothers will provide food IH for sober thinking rather than for H comic jqurnallsm and caricature. H There Is reason in their scheme; - H moderation and reason in the appll- iH cation of tho principle would cause lH many communities to follow Catlin. H Parents are far too careless with H regard to the lives and habits of tho H young men who court their daugh- H tors. They take the matter of "wild H oats" too lightly. Thoy do not suf- H ficlently protect the health, poaco and H happiness ot Innocent girls. Thoy H would rejoct young men for gambling, H for immoderate drinking, for laziness H and shiftlessness, but thoy too often IH remain Ignorant of or blind to more H serious defects and disqualifications. H Why should not suitors of pure and jH Innocent girls satisfy their parents jH that they have led clean lives and H aro sound in bjidy and mind? Some H day every state will require certifl- H catcs of health from men wishing to H marry; somo states already require H such certificates. The condition is H absolutely reasonable; it is essential jH to public health and morals. But H pending legislation parents can do jH much to protect their daughters from IH misery and bitter disappointment It H is tholr duty and right to offer such H protection. ' H The Catlin plan Is hold, bnt it is a M manlfostnton of a vital and great H movement that is nation wide, tho H movement known as that of social H hygleno. The timo has como to face H ugly facts and deal with old evils and H abuses in a now way tho way of jH sclcnco and rational morality. Chi- H cago Record Herald. H oo H |