, 1881-03-26

undoubtedly the most impor tant, is tho
Report for 1880 of the Registered General
on the Vital Statistics of the Island; and
which shows some improvement In the
physical, as well ss the social and moral
condition of our people, in which Dr.. Nc
Hattie, our Registrar, has ever evinced u
very praise-worthy and more than mere
professional interest. It appears by the
Report under review that the births exceed
ed the deaths by $50 for the year, no great
natural increase of the population to boast
OF it is true, but which nevertheless com.
pares favourably with previous years oil
which we have record. Undoubtedly.
however, the most gratifying feature In the
Report is the reduction 10 the mortality OF
infants aud the decrease in the number
of illegitimate births. the latter fact ex-
planning the former, since it has been over
and over again demonstrated that the great
est mortality among our young population
occurs among the offspring of illicit inter.
course, the parents OF which as a fule
exhibit little or no care for the young ones
to whom they have given existence. The
table shows a decrease of four infant deaths
in every hundred. and n decrease of nearly
five per cent in the illegitimate births,
figures which certainly have an obvious
significance in their relation to each other.
The increase in the proportion OF legitimate
births implies of course an increase in the
number OF those who have entered the
marriage state, and this being the case the
question will perhaps be asked, whether
the TACT is to be attributed to az improved
moral tone among our people, a greater
desire than formerly for a purer condition
of domeaticity, or whether it must be
considered as simply the result OF the
exceptionally prosperous year Just closed.
which by placing more money than usual
at the command of the humber classes
enabled them to crafty their characteris-
tic love of expensive display, and hence
the weddings. The latter suggestion is
perhaps rather a cynical one; and remember.
ing that it is not we'll to look too curious.
~ a gift horse in the mouth, we prefer to
accept the facts as they stand, and to hope
they indicate tia our people are at last
arriving al q practical, wholesome concep-
ton OF what concerns their social and their
material we'll being.
Regarding the Report of the Inspector
OeHSTdl Vi OCuOOlS, sit1AiaT COHRTdLulutOTy
remarks NAV be made. The Inspector
reports considerable progress in elementary
education all through the colony. The
number of scholars in daily average atten-
dance had increased steadily, and " on the
whole satisfactory progress has been made
10 every presidency of the colony without
exception" the greatest improvement
having taken place in Dominica and Nevis,
places however, be it remarked, in which
hitherto the standard was exceptionally
low, and the smallest Improvement being
in the Virgin Islands, where owing to q
variety of unfavourable circumstances
elementary education makes but small
advance. In Antigua the Moravian
Schools, as usual stand at the head !of the
list in point of efficiency. but the Mico
Institution is doing invaluable work in
training up young mea to be the future
teachers of the rising generation ; and the
Inspector reports that the Superintendent
10 most Jealous and indeIa,igable, and is
ably seconded by q competent assistant"
Our space will not permit US to go moro
infinitely into details, aud we content
ourselves with lemarking that the heart
OF the Inspector.Genera is evidently
engaged 10 his work-Antigua Observer.
ID TINT