As a matter of fact, there is very little that is really known about the begetting of children, and the securing of the best results from such action.  The laws of human heredity are, as yet, for the most part, unknown.  But common sense would seem to indicate a few things that must be best in the premises.

Thus, it would seem to be for the best that the husband and wife should be in good physical condition when a child is begotten.  More than this, it would seem right that the act of begetting should be a deliberate, and not a mere chance begetting.  Hence, in general, it is well for the husband and wife to agree upon a time for the begetting of a child, and deliberately accomplish a sex-meeting for such purpose.  Although, one instinctively feels that such a deliberate meeting might be too matter of fact—­too cold and formal, lacking in warm blood and genuine emotion; still, the probabilities are that even this could be overcome, if kept in mind and “provided for.”

Referring to the things that have already been said, of course an embrace which is to result in pregnancy should be one of the most perfect that can possibly be experienced, one in which, in an ecstasy of love’s delight, husband and wife merge their souls and bodies into a perfect oneness—­it would seem that from such a meeting the best, and only the best results could come.

And so if the husband and wife will agree that from a given time on, they will cease to have a care to prevent conception; and then, sometime immediately following the fifth day after the beginning of the menstrual flow, they will naturally meet in a perfect embrace, the probabilities are that they will have done the best possible to secure the highest attainable results from the act of begetting a child.

As a rule, the proper time for such begetting is between the fifth and the tenth day after the beginning of the menstrual flow.  It is sometimes best, however, to make the meeting earlier than this, even before the flow has ceased.  Some women will conceive then who cannot do so at any other time.  And so, if a wife should be unable to conceive between the fifth and the tenth day, as noted, let an earlier date be tried.  If this should fail, consult a reliable physician.

It ought to be said, too, that putting off having children too long, is very apt to result in the sterility of the wife.  Many a young wife, who has really wanted to have children sometime, and who would be greatly grieved if she thought she could not bear a child, has kept putting it off, and has done this so often, and for so long, that, when the “convenient day” does come, she finds that she has “sinned away her day of grace.”

Speaking generally, the first baby should be born not much later than two years after marriage.  There are, of course, exceptions to this, but it is a good rule to go by.