The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1865-09-29
PhYsi illogical Economy.

From some statistics recently publish
ed with reference to Massachusetts, one
gets some suggestive facts. Among some
figures in relation to births, we find thai
the number of children born of purely
American parents is about l3, 900, and
those born of foreign parents something
over 1850. The figures also show that
the number of births among native Amer
leans is steadily decreasing, while that of
the foreign population is steadily increas-
ing. There is comforting assurance in
the contemplation of these facts that goes
far towards dissipating the fear entertain
ed By many, that Puritanlsm is about to
inundate this continent
One can notice in this decrease in the
native New England stock the working of
one of natures wisest provisions. We
fud in examining the economy of annu-
al reproduction that fecundity in species
is in the reverse proportion to its harm
fnluess. Lions, tigers, elephants, hyenas,
and other beasts of destructive natures,
propagate with difficulty and ouly at
long intervals. On the other hand, AMI
mails whose existence is of value to the
world multiply with rapidity and to an
extent that deties extinction.
Man is only sort of superior animal
and there is no reason to doubt that ma
ture has embodied in the economy of the
human race the same provisions which are
used to regulate the Increase of inferior
species. 1t may be that precisely the
same means are not onapleJed ia oaoe of
rapacious and destructive races of men
that are used to hinder the undue increase
OF the same types among the lower orders
OF animal life. Thus, while the constitu-
tional characteristics of the blood-thirsty
tiger or the destructive elephant prevent
procreation beyond certain and limited
extent, the same result is reached by diff.
ferent, but no lees sure means, in cases of
destructive classes of mankind.
If we take the case of the Ashantee race
in Africa, we find that in place of putting
the limit to increase in the physical con-
stitution of this people, it has been placed
in their own inherent barbarity and in the
hostility of mankind. The Ashantee
mother brays her children in mortar
and consumes them with all the gusto
that attends the swallowing by civilized
people of toothsome bonJon or aboui2lon
constructed by first class artist of the
kitchen. By thus eating majority of the
children, and by continuous system of
internicine strife, Ashanteeism is pre-
vented from assuming proportions that
would infict injury upon the human race.
In somewhat tho same manner is be-
ne6cent nature providing for the repres-
sion, and possibly the extinction of a sub
division of civilization which having per-
formed all the good which it was capable,
has latterly become aggressive, noxious,
destructive. The manner differs from
that adopted towards Ashenteeism; for;
while the female of the latter race eats
her offspring, and thus prevents increase,
the same end is reached in the case Of the
other by the absence of births. What
might be called positive processes are used
to prevent the spread of Ashanteeism-
that is, children are born, but are served
up as ragout for the maternal parent.
In the case of the other, negative process
ses are made use of-that is, children are
not born because there is o decrease in
marriages, in powers of reproduction, and
in desire for union of sexes. In place
of putting "rats and mice" in her front
hair, and cultivating her back-hair, and
her appearance and emotions with refer
enoo to securing husband, the Massa.
chusetts miss puts on pair of spectacles,
and cultivates theology and philanthropy
with reference to the amelioration of the
of the odorous bondmen of the south. In
place of gravitating towards maternity,
the Puritan daughters tend towards school.
teaching.
Instead Of anxiously anticipating the
time when she shall love, care for, and
educate her own children, the New EGG
land maiden looks forward to the time
when she shall be permitted to superinteud
few dozen young niggers somewhere in
the sunny south.
1t is by substitution of school marin
instincts in place of those of maternity
that nature has provided for a repression,
and possibly the extinction of Puritapism.
In the estimation of the women of New
England, man is not regarded in the
light of husband and possible father;
but rather as reformatory sort Of an in
stitution, with an umbrella, and his hair
behind his ears, and his thoughts mainly
intent upon some sort of missionary en-
terprise to the barbarians outside of Bos-
ton and its dependencies. Men with broad
shoulders, deep chests, clear eyes, and who
develop muscularity and perpendicular
ty, are unappreciated and usually at
discount in New England. The man
with spectacles, and "pallid brow" add
an intellectual "stoop'' in his narrow
shoulders, is the beau ideal of the Massa-
chusetts woman, as in some distant south
ern school room she reflects little upon
manly men and good deal upon the fu.
ture of the woolly flock that surround her.
We warn the Puritans that thew have