The New York herald., 1870-01-09
FRANCE.

FRANCE.
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Paris BabIcs-Progress Of Population Infants
ut Nurse and Infantile DIoriality-M. Louis
Binuc's Rcturn-victor Hugo md George
Penbody-Tho Political Situation.
PARIS, Dec. 90 1892.
closed my last letter with the intimal:on that
should have something to say in my next on the in
terosin. topic OF French babies II L. subject OF
universal interest however. and appeals directly
none more SOTO the business and Dosoms OF man
kind. There is beyond doubt NO small diversity
offeeng in different countries ON this vital matter
In our country, where population is stll limited,
baby Is regarded az an article OF prime necessity
but in China. where the market Is over supplied, 4,
must be regarded as nuisance, since so many are
prematursIy consigned TO the river. In France on
the other hand, a baby IS looked upon as q luxury
that only the richer classes can miulge, and the
consequence Is that tho utmost selfresralnt Is ex
ercsed TO avoid their undue accumulation There
mas been some discussion here lately on this point
growing out OF tho fact that population Of France
remains almost stationary This enigma is explained
by some from the more cautious production OF
babies, while Others assert that the crop as large
as In oher countries bat that mo1o prevails to
their treatment tnar tells fearuny against their full
Development. am unwilling TO take the respons
this delicate subject, and wi therefore quote those
better informed.
A late authority delivers himself in this wlse:-
From PARIS, especially but also In q greater or
lesser degree, from the provincial towns stream or
newiy-born infants constantly nows Into tae rura
districts. The mothers must work. they afford
to keep Their chdren at home. More value Is at
taehcd to the labor than tn the ana life OF
the lie pless being committed 10 strangers hands;
only the higher classes go TO the expense OF Wet
nurse at home Slorkeepers aad generally the
tracing and toling popuatoa OF The cay send their
children away. For the most part they do not
soc the place whlther tney are takea but learn
the name Of tie village or hamlet from certincale
presented by the MAYOR or the locality From time
to time they visit thelr children but usually ut long
intervals because IL Is often too far away
and oftener too great an expense IN France
a. IS known, women take more active part Ill the
business Of lne than IN mos. other countries, and
this Ia especially the case with the trading classes.
not regard her merely aS an anccrionate companion
the mother aad nurse OF hls children the Keeper OF
dian or his mercantile Interests, hls chief saesw0-
man. his bOokkceper, his corresponding CLERK. IL Is
the general ana almost universal pracuce IN France
that the Young married woman should b0 her hu3-
bands cher associate In his business. No merce-
nary pld 1t Is argued, can ho so valuable jealous
or so cheap as hers. Tue bride steps from tho
church TO the counter, the desk or the worgroom.
When children come thev must be got rid Oi; Lime
Is loo valuable employed In watching and tend
ing them. And 80 they are despatched into the
country to some woman VINO makes It her trade to
take nursilngs. The results are obvious enough.
wanting, 2nd the mortality Is lar greater Than In
countries where q different system preyais. or
course the poorer the people who tnus put out their
arcater IL the neglect to which the children
are exposed. But even when the payment Is liberal
the security Ii small. 81 will cite instance"
says The same Authority, '.tha. came wnnin my
knowledge. a prosperous tracesmaa In the full
vigor Of life married young wife, wEo was forth
win installed as MS head clerk. A child was bora
and sent out to nurse III the country. Tne parents
visited 1t as often as usua y the Case Dut the child
nd nj ~ 4 III ah
and likewise died. The Same thing occurred with
third, fourth and ffth child. IN: father having
aixtn child was born aud was reared at home,
throve well and is growing up. Ths parents are
the five children had received the same attention as
the sixth tney also would have lived and nOursned."
1t may be said TINS is an exceptional case but At Is
no rarity to hear OF hearhy children dying out az
nurse, and II we may believe the French Journals
the vigilance OF the local authorizes sullciens
to check the malprRcNces OF those chid-farmlng
women who II they do not actually poison tho
children, are guilty OF such neglect and treatment
RS 10 lead to the same result There exists In France
an association for the protection OF children; but Is
may be doubted IL their action can do much TO stem
this sad state OF things.
The above publication brought response in
the way OF remonstrance at the somewhat
exaggerated picture or the evils Of baby
farming and the writer Of the latter thus
comments on the story gwen aoove:-"As to
the number Of children 10 your model family Of
q
lily had lived and prospcred the four others would
never have been called into existence. They were
merely supplementary children, and thc number OF
six was never seriously intendcd.n Here we have
the two opposite views on this pregnant topic, II
may SO speak, that alluded 10 at tho beginning
Whether It Is to be attributed 10 the results OF baby
farming the caution and providence exercised BY
the French OF all classos 1t Is hard to say bat the
tact none the less prominent That Ol all countries
the population OF France makes the slowcst
advances. whio thai Of England. o1 European
nations probably grows the fastest.
LOUIS Blanc BO' wen known Dy his socialist
theories and who figured for three months IN the
provisional government or 184S, when he was ex
% aq
back 10 Paris 10 Try his fortune once more, To the
surprise Of many who admire his literary ability and
thought ne would Turn 10 to advantage by writing
something worthy his former reputation, he mas a0-
ceptcd the offer OF rne revolutionary organ, tho
RuDpel, and is duly Installed as ono OF its editors
whether he will hold thus equlvocal position for any
length Of tne for Louis Blanc writes with too much
elevation and taste 70 suit The rabd views OF the
readers Of ths ultra print and he Will likely dtsap
point them by his moderation.
Victor Hugo in his recens letter about tho lat0
Mr. Peabody, SAID HIS voice was not that q France.
nat was tbe voice OF exnen some OF the French
journals rap the knuckles OF tho wouldDe exile
quite vigorously for this wifu perversion OF tho
truth. EVERYBODY knows that Victor Hugo M W was IN.
free 70 return to France as Louis BLANC and all the
rest OF tho same Category but ne prefers evidently,
to 1--we in the pleasant little island o. GaernseJ
style that suits his peculiar taste. This, however
surely no reason why he should 90 on playing the
interesting s Of " hsre ne Is nSs nSs
30 prominent public man as Victor lingo should be
guilty in public letter on SO grave topic, Of suca
s sloss saS Iata as an exiio Whe" Il was
merely his own will and pleasure TO live
elsewhere than In France. Hugo must ~