Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1891-07-23

there is growing tendency towards few
er children in the family. Fashion
weakens the power of reproduction
The claims of society make children
burden. Very few among us nova
days marry with the idea of gathering
about them a family of children. There
are communities in this state where from
one-quarter to one-third of the families
have no children. In about the same
proportion of families you viii find MOI
more than one or two children. A
family of six children is a rare thing tc
behold. Yet Grant Allen tells us thai
in order to keep the population good,
every woman should be the mother oi
six children. WHAT'S true of Vermont
Is no doubt true of all the older states.
In the first settlement of new states and
territories there are many large fami-
lies. As the number of families in
creases their size diminishes. This is
accounted for on the ground that soci-
ETY. becomes more highly organized, the
rearing of households is more expen-
sive. Property accumulates and there
are property interests to consider. Ma
ny parents are desirous that their child
en- should begin where they themselves
leave off. To do this necessitates linn
itations. Many are anxious that their
children should be educated so as to
rise above the necessity of manual la
Dor. Education is expensive. Not
many children can be carried through
the process by the average father. 1t
costs more to make New England
Judge than it does Georgia cracker,
and in New England we all want TO
make Judges of our boys or what is e.
quivalent. We seek for higher quality
and imperil quantity. The tendency
Of civilization as we know it is to over
reach itself. We can easily conceive
OF race civilized put OF existence. We
mock AT Rome because she failed to
raise men to hold back the barbarian
hordes. Cut off our supplies from with
out and how long would it be before we
should fall into similar condition.
sent so many regiments of
foreigners into the war that one of her
called her European prov
ince. Immense numbers Of foreigners
enlisted from every state as we well
know, and had we not had this re-
course who can tell what the result
might have beenY But supposing this
foreign supply should be cut off, The
character of our immigration
reveals a tendency towards a decrease
in what we call our foreign population.
Of those who come more are men than
women. OF $4,000 or more Italians
who have landed here within few
only about 10000 were wom-
IN. Young and middle-aged men have
come leaving wives and homes behind
.hem,-some to escape conscription
avs. some to make fortunes and return,
Dut whatever the motive they come un-
Ter circumstances that do not tend to
Keep up even a natural increase of the
population. And the sources of sup
1ly are cut off. In those Italian prov
noes from whence most men come the
complaint is heard that few but women
-emain. The common affairs of life
ire neglected. The women are forced
o do mems labor, for the men have
zone away. And it is becoming an
question with the Italian
government how to keep the men at
lome. We do not believe that we have
eason to expect so rapid growth in
population in the future as in the past.
f the present tendency continues our
Increase will be mostly from immigra-
ion. This cannot always last. The
urplus will be exhausted. This fact,
iowever, does not cause us any ankle
Y. We simply wish to relieve the
ears of any who may think the world
$ in danger Of becoming over-populat-
d.
d., p;nobano of TTasfn,;nster a lad 4