The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-04-03

A certain French lady, unhappily a resi-
dent of Ecuador, Is reported to be the
mother of seven children, all of one birth.
The news requires some confrmatio Ii
came by cable, and it is a well-established
tact that any number of mendaclous con-
tribntions to the history of the human race
are transmissible by cable, especially if one
end of it. IS worked from Vienna. the nat
nral home Of startling surprises. The medi-
cal books are ominously silent on such feats
Oh maternity, unless one goes back to the
very early editions IN those enlightened
days when toad5 and Shiny snails were of
lnestimable therapeutic value and the
blood was supposed to course more healthiy
when most Of it had run out. There are
traditions IN folk lore veracties of families
as numerous as the days In the year coming
as benefacton to poor people of industri-
Gus habits, but there is no incoutroyertible
record or such swarms of progeny ever
growing up into usefulness. Its not neces-
sary these surprise parties should occur to
demonstrate mans supremacy upon the
earth. When II is mere question of num-
bers man is far outstrlpped by some very
humble creatures, such as the cockroach.
the herring and the cod. But assuming the
cable has not told a fb about this French
lady, 1t Is clear that France has a grievance
Those seven darlings should have been
porn In France, and an exhibition
shond have been held In their honor,
and Joy bells rung to celebrate the auspi-
clous sign that the country Is gaining IN
Population. What is more precious to
france than an Increase of patriotic citi-
gems? Unless change comes-and nobody
quite sees how IL viii come or WHY il must
come-France viii In century be depleted
OF Frenchmen, and Germans, Belgians and
Swiss will reign in their stead. Brittany
ana Normandy are the only provinces at all
prolific. The other districts are disappoint-
ipgiy stationary or retrograde Prizes for
matrimony and large families are unavaii-
ing, and patriotic economists mourn the de-
cadence of their country. This event la
Ecuador should raise the dropping hopes Of
the nation.
Lady Henry Somerset has very definite
opinions on the drinking habits of England
and America. but they need not be shared
by other people in their entirety. What
can be said for her ladyship's faculties of
observation when she comes to these con-
illusions: Among American men there is
much more intoxication. Among the
women there is wonderfully less. The
American women, except those who have
abandoned themselves to vicious lives, will
not go into saloons: In England nothing Is
thought of it. There the saloons are
crowded at all hours with women. They
drink infinitely more than the women ia
this country. l suppose the vice among
women In England is in measure hered-
tary." In the towns Of England the women
OF the working class do undoubtedly visit
The public houses in considerable mum bers.
They go to them openly for jug OF ale or
they stand at the counter and drink ii.
mere are also depraved classes who cannot
Keep away from the gin palaces. But the
TACT mat saloons are tabooed by women in
America IS not positive proof that consid-
efaDle volume Of refreshment Is not con-
suiheo outside. American bars are desti-
TUE OF rooms where women conld take
mna' they are disposed to in quiet. There
10 no Stigma OF disgrace cast upon women
enleriHg Gales or restaurants or beer halls
III rance OF Germany, and TO certain ex-
tent lne EngIish people are natural and toll
Grant Ia THESE matters. 1t is not so longago
that bread and cheese or bacon and ale
formed the staple diet Of the English peas
antry. But as to men the facts are notori-
ously the other way. American men are re-
markably sober. and even abstemious. and
at table four take water to one who drinks
wine or beer. Cocktails may come after
tween American and foreign hotels in this
drunkenness is very common in all tile large
towns 81 England, and the Scotch towns
are nc 'ionsly hilarious. To make out
would ca a very heavy drink bill upon the
women, and that Is far from being deserved.
fresbyterians are peripatetic body on
the American continent In their annual
conclaves, and we may conclude that the
experience of travel. while it has no special