ABSTRACT
Proneaswearetobesentimentalaboutourancestors,we seemquitepreparedtobelievethattheywereoftenwicked people,atleastonthestandardswhichtheysetforthemselves. Whenbastardycomesintotheconversationitissometimes saidthatcountrypeople,andourforefathersingeneral,were morelikelythanwearetobringillegitimatechildrenintothe world,andmoretolerantofbastardyasacondition.Itis widelysupposedtoothatnoshrewd,hard-workingpeasantor craftsman,towhomstrong,hard-workingsonsanddaughters wereatangibleasset,wouldeverundertaketomarryagirl unlessheknewfromhisownsexualexperiencethatshewas capableofbearingchildren.Ifshedidprovebarren(this implies)nomarriagewouldtakeplace,andthepoorgirlwould liveoutherlifeasareject.
