Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-11-14
THE FAMILY IN FRANCE.
The Increase of Divorce. and the Decrsss
OF Birth. Are Grating Alarm.


Of Births Are Creating Alarm.
Paris Letter to Philadelphia Telegram.
profound and painful sensation has been
created by the publication OF the official reports
concerning the population OF France. These
carefully compiled statistics inform the world
az large that the marriages and births have
diminished in q noteworthy ratio during the
year 1870. and that the deaths have augmented,
so that not only is the population at a stand
still. in bygone years. bnt il is actually de-
creasing The number Of marriages celebrated
in France in 1880 showed a diminution 81 SEGA
over the number contracted in 1889. The num-
Der OF births has fallen in a twelvemonth from
$50. 579 to SIS O59. almost As low during the
war years 1870 and 1871.
Iheincrease in the number Of deaths IL alarm
ing. amounting TO s76.505; that is TO say. over
n. goo more than in 1883. This excess IL due 20
rayages Of the influenza which ragged in France
during the first four months of Last year, Great
ing mortality equal 90 that caused by the
cholera epidcmics Of past seasons. though the
percentage of deaths in the number OF cases q,
oil course, very much smaller.
Another alarming feature OF the recent re-
port Is the constantly increasing number OF
divorces. lt was expected that they would
dlminlsh after the first year: that 10 20 say,
when separations Of long standing or incura-
bic disscnsions extending over many wears
should have found relief an the new remedy.
On the contrary. their number has gone on in
creasing TIL. In 1890. they amounted 20 5.s57;
mat Is 10 say, TO seven divorces for every 10 900
married COUPLES. Added to this the constant
and inNinclble repugnance TO large families ex-
listing IN the upper and middle classes che
average OF children per household IL only
threc). and II will be understood that the
sources of population IN France are lessening
IN startling degree.
What is the cause Of this progressive diminu-
tion. above all in the number Of marriages2
good deal OF the falling Of may be At
tribuied 10 the difficulty and expense OF con-
tracing a legitimate union. Any man OF
| woman who desires 10 get married is COM
PEELED to produce any quantity OF documents
proving the consent Of the parents. the place
and manner of those parents deaths should
any OF them be no longer living. and other
formalities OF less interest and importance.
In America, and L believe in England, Jack
can call upon his Jill TO 60 with him 10 the
nearest clergyman or magistrate or mayor,
and hey, presto the twain forthwith made
one flesh. But the bother and the complica-
tions, and. above all, the expense OF contract
| ing a legal union in France, are many and
and so formidable to deter most members
OF the poorer classes from getting married al
all.
The law Of military service has also been
found to exercise a powerful influence in bring
/ ing about the decrease IN the number OF mar
riages by taking the young man away from his
| home and from the society of his equals Just az
the Claims Of lawful affection aud a future
home and compelling him 20 remain single till
his years OF military service are completed. for.
according TO law, no young French soldier can
marry till that period Is at an end.
| Will 1t be believed that one OF the main
causes that has brought about the new and
| rapid decrease in the number OF births in
| France has been the establishment of uni
versal education and the law that makes 10
| compulsory Yet such is the undoubted fact.
| he child can earn nothing until its school
years are completed. Hence French parents OF
| the lower order look upon every additional
| child as fresh source OF expense. and the
families of the working classes and the peas
antry grow smaller ana smaller year by year.
| As to the remedies be found for tins de-
plorable state Of affairs. they are hard to inn
agine, much less to indicate.
In any one wishes any proof Of this curious
condition OF comparative childlessncsE lac or
she need only investigate the number Of off,
spring to be found in the homes OF any one
particular class. Take. for instance the con-
cierges of Paris. They form a large comfort
ably installed and well paid group IN the annals
OF domestic service. During all the wears that
L have lived in Paris L have never met with .
concierge Tor rather with pair Of them. for
there must always be two in the loge that
If one has to go out the other can attend TO the
important affairs OF the position) that had
more than one child In a vast number Of
cases the couples are childless. A family of i've
children in any class Of French society 10 looked
| upon as an excessive number.