Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1897-04-21
IS clyiL,zID MAN MORIBUND.

Speaking OF the alarming decrease
OF births In France, jacques BertilIon
in the Temps points out that the con-
dition threatens the country with
ruin 10 every respect. The political
and military consequences are easily
perceived, since OF necessity the army
must decrease while those OF other
countries are increasing. The wealth
OF the nation 10 also affected. The ex-
ports during the years Of ls6T-'o
reached an average OF 1906, 100000
francs. In 1895 they Increased to b.
374. OOO, 900. During the same period
the German exports increased from
2,974 900, 600 francs (the average for
1872 10) to $500, 100000. The reason
for this is that the number OF French
workmea does not increase, while In
Germany tho population has Jumped
from Al 100000 to $4,000, 600. In the
same way the intellectual Influence OF
French writer's Is on the decrease. A
book written ia French may be read
by 10000, 900, while one written In
German is within tho reach OF 97,OOo,'
600, and one In English OF ll5,OOO,0O0
ueople, The evils of a decrease oil the
birthrats are indeed far.reachiug.
Another French author, Professor
Fouillee, quoted by the Literary d.
gest, asserts, however, that this evil Is
spreading throughout the civilized
world and not only In France. The
United States, Canada, Australia,
Great Britain, Belgium. Swi zerland
and the Scandinavian countries are
very much alike, he asserts, Ia this
respec,: with regard TO the United
States, he afiirms that the New Eng
land states show about the same birth
rate as France. The reason he assign
for this general decrease in the coun
tries noted Is that civilization Is itsel
on the decrease, and he gives som'
appalling PROOFS In support OF his state
mont:
Since 1881 the number OF crlmina
, cases in France has increased by $4,000
, although practically the population ha'
, moi Increased at all. Especially has tn,
: number of murders aud hOmicides IN
creased. Up 10 recent times ltaIy re
ported the largest percentage OF criminal
Of This kind, pamely, from 20 TO w
each wear. France has now the SAD dis
5 tinction OF being in the lead, IN
average in late years being ABOUT iVu
| While Italy reported annually apou
] 50 child murderers, France nov
} averages $50. Taking all tn
data together, the criminality of Franc
has lust about doubled IN the last MT,
years. Tho saddest iea ure about UNI
d increase is the fact that 1t is proportional
, ly greatest among the youth OF inc conn
try. The actual fact Is that tho mum De
c of criminals who are yet children
!, youths is twice rs large AS tho number c
adult criminals, although France h'
only about seven million children an
Il youths and twenty million adults. Il
Paris more than one-half OF the erin
inals arrested are less than Fl years {
% age. Prostitution among children
II alarmingly ON the Increase. During u
last ten years an average OF 1000 OF sue
> cases were brought to tho attention
h the authorities every year. In 1880 thel
IN were but 1--we suicides to every 100
inhabitants; in 1892 there were twent!
q four. and the rate Is increasing Suicid
N Of children under IL were formerly al
"a known in France; now there are on 1
average tifty-hve each year. And In Is
D. there were $40 suicides between III al
Mt 81.
.e. NJ. Fouillts then goss on to pro