Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-04-23

ishment and wholesome food. The
amount of disease among the I'M
educated and poor in this part of
the country is truly extensive. It
is not always due to impudence
but to continuous toll and want of
good food. In this old country a
man cannot so readily change his
kind of work or business. Divis-
ion of labor is in this one sense
accompanied by kind of degra-
dation. Division of labor in a
crowded country, in one sense
lowers a man, by uniting him for
only one kind of labor, and by his
one skill he is compelled to earn a
living. Yet perfection of skill de-
ponds on division of labor, and
division of labor increases with
civilization. As one walks over
those density populated districts,
the thought ARISES, how is it pos
sible for all these human beings to
make a living? What do they live
on? VIII not the world soon be-
come so thickly populated that it
will not be possible to secure a
living for all. A natural popula-
ton generally doubles itself in Is
years.
These are. elementary questions
but all important to the race. 1t
may be laid down as a great first
principle, that the greatest hope of
any human is to have enough
food to live on, after having suffic-
lent food, the second greatest hope
of a human is, no doubt, to marry.
This does not even except priests
and nuns who simply artifcially
comply to a supposed sacred law
to artifcially cheat nature. But at
best nature is only artificially
cheated, for natures instincts will
assert themselves in spite of brim-
stone or paradise. 1t may be
stated without fear of contradiction
that the sexual instincts of any
race Of animals is the most SUI
preme and dominent of all instincts.
Who does not believe that if the
sexual relation of human beings
was abolished, half the poetry of
life would not exist. Eliminate
the sexual instincts and the second
great hope of humans would have
no song to its harp. The poetry
and song of life would be half dead.
With such views Of the race, will
not population increase SO much
that enough food cannot be OBJ
tanned to support life? No doubt
that will be slow process. Food
will no doubt tell the whole story.
Poor or insufficient food takes but
a short time to thin out a race SO
that only the strongest or httest
will survive. A kind of compul-
sorry prudence will force itself in to
regulate the increase ofpopulation.
The stubborn facts of food and
prudence are steadily at work in
the density populated districts of
Birmingham. Puny, i'll fed
and overworked children are
swept away by disease. Educa-
ton is what cultivates prudence iii
the natural walks Of life. Long
hours of toll, bad air and insuhic-
lent wholesome food make sad
looking pale faced youths in the
Black Country. The factory and
shop work tell the worst story on
girls. The toll Of Of shop and the
strain Of factory is the most eff
fective and destructive on girls up
to about p years of age. These
girls become Waxy pale, the bodily
functions are impaired, they loose
their appetite, become nervous and
finally entirely unfit for work.
Recovery requires good food, long
rest and wholesome or country air.
A servant girl earns about 81. 50
a week, a waiting girl in restaur-
ant earns about 81 a week. In
both such cases the girl has her
board and lodging furnished her.
Store clerks receive from s. to So
per week and he must live on that.
Other labor is paid for according
ly. Rent is very high in Birming-
ham. A store on principal street
(say Iox3o feet will rent for $500
a year, that is just one room.
House rent is equally high. Cloth
ing is at least 80 per cent. cheaper
here than in the U. S. Restaur-
ants are plenty and one pays by
the dish. A shilling buys a good
meal. Meat is quite dear here.
The people in general dress well.
The same sad difference between
the rich and poor. There is an
enormous number of very poor
people in this district. They seem
wretchedly poor too. However,
the government local or general
provides necessary aid. The peo-
pie are good law abiding citizens
though very radical in their opin-
ions and do not hesitate to express
them. On street corners and by
ways, Sunday Or any other day,