Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-02-06
BIRTH RATE IN FRANCE.
Greater Increase Recorded Than for
Many Years-Death Rate
IOyyer.

The last number of LIE Journal Officiel Of
France contains statistics which have
moved the French people to expressions of
great enthusiasm. The births in France
for the year ending March. 1856. have eX-
ceeded the deaths by $500.
Five years ago the sociologists began to
brighten the people by drawing direful
conclusions from the fact that the deaths
exceeded the births by 1O.505 in 1891. and by
e0.Hl in 1892. However. the figures for the
two following years were reassuring, show
ing an excess of the births over the deaths
OF !.li6 and 39.16S respectively. But the
statistics published a year ago. containing
the data for 1885, again caused great con-
Germ, for the deaths had exceeded the
births by the alarming number of 1873.
1t was also noted that the decrease of mar
rlageS since 1890 had been constant at an
number of divorces showed a grave aug
mentation.
These figures were discussed in political
circles and measures to remedy the grow
ing evils were introduced in the m
The suggestion which found the most ia
Vor was one leSsening the time of service
IN the army and offering special induce
ments to conscripts to marry. The meas
ure. however, did not become "A law. Mean
while the fear of a degenerating and eN-
plring France was Increased a hundred
fold by the favorable showing that Ger
many made in the large excess of births
over deaths.
The births recorded in France for the
year ending with March. 1896. show u gain
or lll,5lS over the preceding year. The
death rate decreased. In 1895 the number
Of deaths was SOL 1856; the last recorded year
gives 1t as f71.SS6. showing a loss of 50. loo.
Thus. as the deaths have decreased in the
notable proportion of nearly 10 per cent.
the births have increased at the rate of
81 per cent. Calculated on the basis of
1000 of population, the birth rate. which in
1870 was PA per cent. has advanced to
22-1. while the death rate, which in 1895
WAS "a per cent. in 1885 was reduced TO
Thus" continues LIE Journal ofticiel.
is a gain shown to have been all along
the line. and one which should be gen.
orally gratifying to every citizen of
The comparison is then carried back to
the year ISL, when the first falling off
was explained as being on account of the
Franco-Prussian war. In 1872 and again
in 1876 the births reached 966. coo. but from
the latter date the diminution has been al
most constant. As to the deaths for the
last twenty-six years, the lowest number
was 5000. reached in 1896. The marriages
In 1896 show an increase Of 1858 over 1885.
This is the first increase since 1872. when
the number reached 352,WO.
The increase in the number of marriages
Is In a measure due to the modification of
the "age Of consent" law effected about
two years ago. Prior to that time the con-
tracing parties could not be Joined in
matrimony under the age of 45 without first
ootdiHins the consent oi parents OF guard
ians. They could. however. at great trouble
and expense force their legal guardians
to appear in court and give their consent
there. But this alternative was not often
employed.
But the divorces follow their ascending
march. Starting with APT in 1855, when
the divorce act was passed. they reached
in 1886 1,0o1. an increase of 30S over 1895.
After further discussion of the divorce
q%uetion. LIE Journal Of1ciel adds: while
the results of 1896 are not especially re-
markable. when compared with the older
history of France. they are satisfactory