Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1872-06-10
WOMEN AND CHILDREN.
Sketches Showing the Relative Proper
tons of Women and Children
in the United States.

We have before us a curious statisti-
cal diagram showing the proportion of
white children of both sexes under fif-
teen years of age, in the several States
of the Union, to every thousand
white women between the respective
ages of fifteen and fifty. The facts and
figures embodied in the diagram are
drawn from the United States census
records for every decade in our history
between 1890 and 1870. DR.. j. NJ. Toner,
who prepared the table, seems to have
been very careful in his estimate and
conclusions, and the result shows a very
startling decline in birth-rates through
out the entire Union. In 1910 Ohio took
the lead in fruitfulness, each thousand
Of its women showing an average pro-
duct of 1870 children. Mississippi rank
ed next, for each thousand women there
being 3407. Tennessee held the next
place, with 1899 children to each thou
sand women; Missouri, Kentucky, Indi-
ana, Alabama, and Arkansas following
close behind. The decline in birth-rates
is marked for each subsequent decade in
almost every State. For Ohio, as a
sample, the decline is thus shown: In
1860 for each thousand women there
were 1870 children; in 1910, 1898 chill
dren; in 1920, 3012; children; in 1880,
2275 children; in 1910, 204A children; in
1850, 1852 children; in 1860, 1902 chill
dren, and in 1870 the rate was about the
same, OF less. Most of the States show
a marked decrease in the decade ending
with 1880, and a gradual decrease ever
since. This is particularly the case in the
New England States. The highest pro-
d~uctiveness of New Hampshire was in
the decade from lS00to 1910, when there
were 1869 children..t TO 1000 women. In
1920 the number had decreased to z146;
in 1880 to 1541 in 1910 to 1919; in 1850 to
1901 in 1860 to 1155, and in 1870 to 1858.
Rhode Island commenced with a maxi
mum of 2236 children to 1000 women
and in 1850 was reduced to E33. Yer
mont does better. She commenced with
a maximum of 1907, and her minimum
in 1860 was 1886. In New YORK State
both maximum and minimum are less.
the former being 272S, and the latter
1927. Maine began at 3I35, and is now
reduced to 1872. For Massachusetts the
highest figures are 2226, and the lowest
HOS. For Connecticut the highest fig
ures are 1924, and the lowest ITO. The
figures in the District of Columbia are
nearly the same as those for COnnecti-
cut. In Minnesota, Texas, and Wiscon-
sin there has been rather an increase
than a decrease of f~ruitfulness since 1910.
Taking the whole of the Southern States
together, Maryland furnishes the lowest
average. Her point of highest fruitful
ness in 1905 stood at 1876, and her lowest
point, in 1850 the returns for the last
census are not given, at 1920. For the
rest, all the Southern States stand high
er than the Northern and New England
States. In Mississippi the lowest pro-
duction reported fora decade was 203I,
while the highest was 3407. Louisiana
furnishes the following figures: For the
decade ending in 1910, 1852; for 1920, |
1850; for 1880, 2I4S; for 1910, 1916; for
1850, 1929 for 1860, 1865; for 1870, re-
turns not given.
For these remarkable statistical and
vital results, there must be sufficient
moral and physiological reasons. In the
North where women should be the cher
mothers ola large and healthy
offspring, the laws of nature and of
health have been so entirely ignored
productiveness is the exception, not
the rule; and the command, increase
and multiply" is violated in a thousand
forms ofcriminal abuse. This is partic-
llarly the case in families who have
succeeded in becoming wealthy, and are
effeminated by the luXuries which |
wealth affords. They dislike the trouble
and Inconvenience ofthe maternal state,
and if their women have children, they
them, at the earliest possible mo-
ment, to the tender mercies Of a nurse,
sinking the mothers duties in the more
priced pleasures of the fashiona-
Die woman A civilization which pro-
iuces such results must be materially
defective, and the sooner the public
conscience is aroused to the matter the
for our country and our