The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-07-19
A RACE DYING OUT.
French "Turning Boxes" and
What They We're For.
NOT ENOUGH CHILDREN RAISED.
A Member of the Chamber of Deputies
Wants the Foundlfngs Taken Care
of by the Government.

economists, spoke OF the dispeopling OF
France. 81 assert" said the future men,
Der of the convention, in 17S5. 'that at the
rate things are going, there will be de-
crease of 100000 in the population of
France within fifty years. This calcula-
ton is of little Importance to the egotist.
who thinks only of himself, who would
sacrifice the whole universe TO a passing
enjoyment; but the true citizen thinks
otherwise. Ifthere ever was time where
it was necessary to encourage marriage
and the increase of population, it is now.
There is no time to lose; too much has
been lost already"
This clear-sighted republican as in the
right, and we now have ample proof that
his forebodings were legitimate. How to
stay the increasing tide of depopulation
throughout this country is the momen-
tous question of the day with all patriotic
Frenchmen. The birth rate has been
gradually diminishing for years, but now
the crisis is at hand, and unless something
is done-and done auickly-the mortality
will exceed the birth rate. While the ex-
cess of births over deaths per 1000 is as
high as 1875 in Greece. 1919 in Germany
and Russia, 1872 in England, it fig
ures at the abnormally low figure
of 2.3 in France. When we reflect
that within the last ten years two foreign
Immigrants have entered France for every
child born on French soil, the conclusion
is that in time the Gallo race will COM
pletely vanish and be supplanted by Ger
mans, Italians and other foreigners. France
is the only country which contains within
her borders foreign population larger
hot Of hor al oh
There are more than 1,000, 900 strangers in
France, while there are only 100000
Frenchmen settled abroad.
Numerous theories have been put for
ward to account for the diminution of the
birth rate. The abuse of alcohol and to-
bacco are credited by some with the major
part of the evil. The Anti-tobacco Soci-
ETY., through NJ. Dujardin- Beaumetz, pre-
scented memorial to the academy of med
icine, but that gentleman refused to sup
port the views it contained. The abuse of
alcohol is undoubtedly factor, but the
baneful effects of tobacco are not intense
enough to influence heredity, as shown by
the fact that the inhabitants of North Ger
many habituaIly use large quantities of
the weed" and their birth rate is excep-
tionally high.
Others have suggested that large num-
Der of people-particularly the renters or
persons with private incomes-voluntarily
restrict their families to one, in order that
the patrimony should not be divided. 1t
is estimated that if the number of chill
dren per family were four instead of three
the gain to the birth rate would be suffi-
cient; the proposal to give a premium to
the parents of fourth child is therefore
recommended. The practice of giving
"dots" to manageable daughters, makes
wives of some who otherwise would re-
main single through lack of physique or
comeliness; it does not follow. however,
that the abolition of marriage portions is
a solution of the matter in hand.
AS to the proposed remedies several are
suggested. NJ. Lagneau is of the opinion
that the states should legislate against
ceiibacy and illegitimacy, so as to enforce,
as it were. legal marriage, and he advo-
Gates the foundation of lying-in hospitals
and retreats for enceinte women and those
newly delivered. Again the diminution
of the period of military service is sug-
gested. because as the law stands at pres
ent, those men who are unfit through
physical incapacity, have two years ad-
vantage of their stronger brethren in the
choice of wives. 1t must be borne in
mind, however, that most marriages take
place between the ages of % and %. and
that Germany is under similar laws and
yet her increase of birthrate is six times
that of France.
Among the numerous proposals more
recently put forward in view Of preventing
infantile mortality and abortive practices
is one which, while it may seem to many
like return to darker age, has the I'M
qualified approval of the academy of med
icine. | allude 10 the re-establishment of
tours, or turning boxes" such as ex-
listed in the French orphan and found
lings hospitals. NJ. Alexandra Dumas.
who is an authority on all questions re-
lating to social life in France, says that if
Legitimate unions no longer produce the
quota of births necessary to the exist
ence of great country, recourse must be
had to irregular production, which is
never quiescent. By gathering together
all the waits born outside the bonds of
marriage and affording them moral and
mental culture, they will be made to fall
back into what should be the rule, nor will
they think of doing like their progenitors.
The turning boxes will answer the pur-
re-people France there is no other means.
and l cannot make out" says the great
dramatic writer, "why any one should seek
elsewhere for a remedy"
There can be no doubt that the restric-
tion of illegitimacy is beside the question.
the main issue being to increase the num-
Der of births, and seeing that the mortality
of that class OF children is almost double
that OF the legitimate offspring-the exact
proportion is 90 TO 32-the indication is to
save the former. Side by side with the re-
establishment of tours or HOSPITALS for the
healthy accommodation of Legitimate
children, the legislator is called upon to
increase the severity of punishment on
abortion-mongers and f1iscuses dances
who are consulted even by married
women; though far from being of itself
adequate, it would be q wholesome check
on the great prevalence of infanticide.
Before entering upon a closer examina-
tion Of the question, let US cast q backward
glance on these turning boxes" whose
suppression is now regarded as A mistake.
What We in France cali tn tour was 4
wooden cylinder, convex on one side and
coucaye on the other, which twisted round
on q central pivot with considerable facil-
ity. Thes tours were located in the outer
walls of hospitals. The convex side of the
tour or turning box" faced the street
while the other side gave on a room with.
In the hospital. Close BY was bell. When
the woman had made I'D her mind IN
abandon the babe, she rang the he'll.
nurse inside the building responded bv
turning the box" half round. so that its
concaye portion fvonted the woman. who
placed the child IN It's hollow DEPTHS: the