The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1897-07-03

tionalism. from which we cite this pass
age for the enlightenment of our Sioux
City contemporary: The time was
when New England families were Hebra-
1stic In size. when the households of
Connecticut sent forth families like a
flock; but such is not the case now, ex-
cept in French, Irish and other families
OF foreign extraction. So far as the
tendency is concerned. 1t is easy to fore
cast the result. The Yankee does not
seem to be taking New England. Not
many years hence he will be vastly out
numbered on his own ground and his
supremacy will be gone"
In view of this admission from a
Protestant paper it was legitimate ques-
ton for the Irish Standard to ask, Is the
Yankee dying out? And it was just as
legitimate for the Buffalo Union and
Times to answer, Yes. rapidly" and give
it's reasons thereforWe copied its answer
and there the matter rested until 1t was
revived by our Sioux City friend, who
evidently had not read our editorials at
all.
For the special information of the
editor of the North Western Catholic we
will furnish him an additional extract
from non Catholic paper, and then he
can direct his attention to it for change.
He is logician enough to know that his
eulogy on the Yankee has no bearing on
the subject under discussion-the de-
crease of children in American families.
He cannot surpass the editor of the Irish
Standard in his admiration for the genl-
inc American; but that is another matter.
The Minneapolis Times, which is edited
by an American has a leader in its is
sue Of June %. In which it says:
1.-The press Of this country has fire.
quently adverted to the alarming de-
crease Of native population in France,
due to the aversion Of the French people
of all classes to large families. 1t Is not
pleasant to realize that practically the
same condition obtains in this country,
and that the decrease Of large families
among our so-called higher classes" is
as notable as it is among all classes in
France In England children are still
considered heritage of the Lord" even
among the nobility. The cadets of a titled
house are almost as welcome as the heir,
and the birth of large number of
daughters is not considered unfortunate.
The French. on the other hand, have a
we'll defined horror of large families. It
is considered little short of ridiculous to
have three or four children, while to have
five or six is breach of good taste, cal
culated to endanger social position. So
widespread is this aversion to parenthood
that small families is the rule among all
classes. In America two or three child
rem are fair average in wealthy and
cultured families, and there are indica-
tions that the average is growing less,
not greater"
The Times refers to the middle class,
composed Of persons of small incomes,
clerks, statesmen, bookkeepers, artisans,
professional and literary persons, and
even clergymen, and says that even a
stronger aversion to children is apparent
among them. and that there exists among
these classes of Americans a deliberate
! purpose not to raise families Of children,
1t then approvingly copies from a New
York paper to the effect that the absence
Of children on the fashionable avenues is
conspicuous; that they are as much out
| of sight there as they are in evidence in
the less arlstocratic quarters; and then
enumerates the causes of the decrease OF
offspring as follows: The preoccupation
Of fashionable married women with the
exciting round of social duties; the in
| tense realization Of the responsibilities OF
parents. and the growing expensiveness
Of living, because of the overwhelming
demands of modern life.
The daily American press is more out
spoken on the question than the Catholic
press, especially that Of New England
The latter refrains from dwelling on II
out of regard for the sensibilitles of theil
Yankee neighbors. But Americans them.
selves see the inevitable consequences OF
the existing evil and realize that some
plain talk Is necessary. The other day
in New York, Rev. DR.. De Costa bluntly
declared that the Queen was to be COM
mended for not Sinking the responsible
tiles Of motherhood, and that in this re-
spect she put to shame the majority OF
American women of the upper class.
We trust that the editor of the North.
Western Catholic will not get into hyster-
les over what De Costa said of such fe.
males. He is a New Highlander by birth
and knows what he is talking about
The Buffalo Union and Times was jus-
titled in replying to our question as ii
did. 1t is sustained by the MINNEAPOLIS
Times. by the London evangelist referred
to. and by the Congregationalist organ
The Advance. of Chicago AS a journal
the Irish Standard is justified in COM
menting on the matter.
The many friends of w. e. Gooding
and they are legion. will be glad to learn
that he is getting on splendidly in St.
Louis as the representative of the South
ern Circuit of the r. j. Cunning Co., the
greatest display advertisers not only in