The error committed by most physiologists, who have experimented with this question, lies in the fact that they have had in mind only one ideal as a perfect type of humanity, and they have tried to grade all their subjects up to this solitary ideal. Humanity, however, presents as many phases as the various climates, occupations, stages of culture, and conditions of life might be expected to produce, in various combination, and we may have a perfect type of humanity, adapted to every climate, to every occupation, to every grade of society, but differing in each. Every individual, under every condition of life, may find his proper complementary associate, adapted to the same conditions of life, but possessing a different character, harmonious with his own.
Nature has not left us in the dark with reference to this question. She surrounds us with every incentive to obey her laws, rewards her obedient children with every pleasure the senses can afford, and punishes the disobedient with pains and penalties too numerous and severe to catalogue. Observation is all that is necessary to teach us the law of harmony. We know that the bright red of the rose is heightened in effect by the dark green of the leaf behind it. We observe that chords in music are agreeable to the ear. And we have only to use the same observation, in respect to matrimony, to distinguish certain combinations that produce all that is rich and grand and beautiful in domestic life, and to know others in which the effect is altogether wrong.
Society has long since learned the distinction between the Brunette and Blonde the Electric and the Magnetic Temperaments. And the fact is also known that it is natural for those of light complexion to admire those of dark, and vice versa. The novelist and the actor recognize this principle, and if the story is well told, and the drama well made up, the hero and the heroine are made to conform to these complexions. The society belle who gives a party, if she be a blonde, invites some dark-eyed lady friend as a foil to her beauty; and the dark-complexioned friend responds cheerfully to the invitation, conscious that her own beauty will be heightened by the contrast. The blonde and brunette are complementary to each other, as far as the temperament is concerned. The Magnetic Temperament is distinguished for its rich arterial circulation and versatility of character, which is deficient in the Electric. The Electric on the other hand, is noted for its strength of bone and muscle and concentrativeness of character, traits deficient in the Magnetic. United, the combination possesses the warmth and versatility of the Blonde with the endurance and power of the Brunette. In the union of the Blonde and Brunette, the law of color is also conformed to, and both appear better than either would apart, or than either would, combined with a person of the same temperament.
To illustrate this principle more completely, I will give a few examples.
I will take first the case of any man who is a complete type of the extreme brunette or Electric Temperament, and marry him to a lady of the same type. At once we see that the law of harmony has been violated. They are too much alike. They look like brother and sister. They are, in fact, physiologically related. They were created under the same general conditions of birth, and have inherited the same peculiarities of constitution. They do not look as well together as either would separately. They possess the same virtues, it is true, but there is an excess of their peculiar good traits, so that they are in danger of becoming vices. Two bodies cannot occupy the same space at the same time; they jostle each other and promote discord. Notice that, in this couple, each possesses the immense base of brain, the narrow pyramidal form of forehead, the serious expression and the indications of dynamic energy peculiar to the Electric Temperament. In this combination there is an absence of versatility, of blandness, agreeableness, sympathy and warmth. All is cold, hard, forcible, unyielding and serious on both sides. The brunette is essentially, a fighting character, the man to fight the battles of his country, of his clients, of his political faction or party. United to such a character as shown in this combination, he would have a wife possessing the same aggressive qualities, and he would return from the battles of the day to find a new conflict awaiting him at his own fireside; and in couples mis-mated in this way, the conflict usually lasts all night, to the great disturbance of the neighborhood.
But if we conform to the law of nature, and unite the brunette to a superbly vitalized blonde, a different effect is produced. Combined with such a character as the brunette her versatility, refinement, warmth and enthusiasm are exactly what he needs to round out the rugged phases of his character, and supply the elements deficient in his constitution. While she in turn needs his executiveness, his dignity, his seriousness and positive elements to balance her tendency to frivolity, and make her accomplishments and versatility valuable. Recognizing, each in the other, characteristics indispensable to happiness, amiable association and financial success is assured, while the offspring is sure to inherit an excellently well balanced organization if other conditions are at all favorable.
Let us now consider the Magnetic Temperament, of which any blonde man furnishes us an excellent example. If we marry him temporarily to a blonde lady, we have produced discord again. They do not look as well together as either would apart. They are too much like brother and sister. There is too much warmth, enthusiasm, versatility and inflammability about this combination. There is not enough of seriousness, dignity, steadfastness and endurance. Their dispositions clash, because every fault in one is aggravated by the same fault in the other. The versatility and genius of the blonde is not assisted by contact with a lady possessing the same characteristics, because he has enough to supply his needs. When we observe marriages of this class, we find results far from satisfactory, and offspring with a decided tendency to insanity, after a succession of such marriages.
What this blonde character demands is just what the brunette possesses, and when we unite the blonde to a lady of the brunette type, we find results that are far more satisfactory. Here again we have followed the law of nature, and harmony is the result—each is the complement of the other. The genius and versatility of the blond are here fortified with executiveness and endurance, while her concentrative and intense nature is vitalized and warmed with the enthusiasm, the geniality and adaptiveness of the Magnetic Temperament.
These four types of character represent the application of the law in persons of relatively the same grade of social position, and surrounded by the same general conditions of life. Between these extreme types of temperamental development, we may find every grade and blending of temperament, but the law remains the same. It requires the trained skill of the professional examiner to determine for each individual the exact type necessary for the complementary character, but this being done, and the description being given correctly, the application of the law becomes an easy task. In my written delineations of character, which many of you have already, and which all should possess, this complementary character is marked out for you with great precision; by following the instruction there given, you have the scientific key to matrimonial happiness.
Persons possessing a predominance of the Mental Temperament should seek consorts having more of the Vital and Motive. Those having an excess of Vitality, a consort more largely endowed with the Mental and Motive. While those endowed with the large bones and strong muscles, peculiar to the Motive Temperament, need the electrifying influence of the Mental, combined with the nourishment of the Vital.