Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1867-12-05

as in the former. The records of many
| towns will include six to eight generations.
Examination shows that the families of the
first generation had an average of eight to
ten children; of the next three between
seven seven and eight; the fifth about five,
and the sixth less than three to each family
Formerly large families were common, now
they are rare. In some of the old towns the
records Of hundred years do not show a
single married couple without children
The New York census of 1866 shows that,
of $685. ,236 married women, l87,745 had no
children, and 303, ,s0s had only one or two.
In the small town of Billerica there are
ninety families of ten or more children. -
Five of these had fourteen, and one twenty
The total in the ninety families is 1,048.-
The birth-ratc shows the same fact that
American families do not increase at all, and
inspection of the registration in other States
shows that the same remark applies to all.
1t is remarked that the decrease of children
is found to prevail in country almost as
much as in city, and that only about three
fifths Of all that are born including city and
country, ever reach adult life"
The prominent causes for this alarming
decrease in the American blrth-rate are set
forth SO clearly by DR.. Allen, that we can
not do better than quote his own plain
words - aiaa fGa .is
In the muscular temperament, the chill
dren of the present day are scarcely devel-
oped at all, from various causes, the princi-
pal among which is the almost total neglect
of manual labor; the body as whole is fee
BILE throughout, and individual muscles are
soft, small, flabby, and weak. The fashions
in dress have weakened the lymphatic and
sanguinc organs; II is the opinion of the best
physicians that the pressure upon the upper
part of the body has served to weaken, de-
press, and displace that organ in woman
which has most 10 do with reproduction,
and all know how common diseases of these
organs are at the present day, although en-
tirely unknown to our grandmothers. On
the other hand the brain and nervous sys-
tenn generally have been highly developed
and altogether predominate. The effect of
this is seen in the intense headaches with
which our women are now afflicted, the
other portions of the body not being suffi-
ciently developed to resist the attacks of
such diseases. AS a general rule, people
highly educated, who severely tax the brain
and nervous system, have less number of
children than those persons engaged in man.
ual labor for livelihood Women distin-
guished for genius and intellectual attain
menis have never as a class been prolific of
offspring This state of things is abnormal
and unnatural, against the designs of nature,
and in violation of the laws of health. Those
who are thus affected are frail and weak,
break down in childbirth, and great num-
Der cannot nurse their children properly.
Many children are brought up by hand en-
tirely, at great hazard oflife. These facts
are one Of the strongest arguments to prove
that the female organization is undergoing
chance for the worse. 1t is now generally
believed that child derives its constitution
from the MOTHER showing, the importance
Of strength and vitality in women. The
visible decline In the propensity implanted
in women for noble purposes, is a key to
the increasing infidelity Of husbands and
the long lists of divorce. American women
have been also diminishing in size for fifty
years, and while there has been a great ad-
vance among them intellectually. Il has not
been an improvement"
Some remedies for this painful state of af.
fairs are thus set forth:-
1.-THE evil is caused by three things; Neg
lect of physical exercise. fashionable dress.
and 10 exclusive cultivation of the bra;n
The remedy for the last is plain. and the
movement in seminaries for increased phys
ical development cannot be too highly COM
mcndcd. To Persuade women to give up
fashion is more difficult, but there has been
some improvement In the fashions them
selves of late years. There is still left the
custome of clothing the body unequally, so
that the breast and the arms and legs are
not kept so well guarded against sudden
changes in the weather as the other parts Of
tuC uC cueut VI LUIS Is 10 pTOuucc
a congested state of the blood. The use of
fine wheat flour IN a newly baked condition
brings on dyspepsia and indigestion. Girls
are put to school tooearly, and in every par
ticular their education is too stimulating
and exciting for their organization. A re-
form must also be effected in the notions of
the Object of marriage and the qualities most
to lie sought for in wife. Instead of the
slender form, small waist, and fashionable
accomplishments, let well developed body,
good health, sound constitution, and
knowledge of domestic duties be the quail
ties most preferred"
We cannot Int repard this whole mat,er
,s ope of vast imnoriancc-on vhic, oners
,be wav for tbe most serious tbougbt and
s.e.xomina,ion The Tina for false
1clicacy IN The discussion of sucb questions
10 ras,. ,ye b.v. ro r;oht n ov,ao f.ots ~
such ;m,ort IN our social and national wall
doing. however delicate NAV he ,be ground
thew toucb mon Elaborate d;scuss;ons and