The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-02-14

children seems to be one of the penal
ties of modren civilization" he said.
1.-THE life which women lead in such
city as New York, and, indeed, in every
urban center, is such as to make them
utterly untitled for the duties of ma
ternity, and the one or two children
whom they do bring into the world are
all, too likely to have to pay by their
own weakness for the nerve-racking
strain under which the parent has
lived.
Society Devouring It's Children.
1T is a normal effect of modern So
cial conditions to act adversely on the
vital forces, and it seems to me to be
the result of a certain nervous ex-
haustion which produces a rundown
nervous condition. We read the story
every day in the case of some girl or
young society matron who breaks
down under the strain and falls VIC
tim to nervous prostration. The prom
lnence given to physical culture and
outdoor sports and exercises for wom-
en- in the present day is an open ac-
acknowledgement that these unWholesome
conditions are making themselves felt
and demand some sort of remedy, but
no permanent good can be done till
men and women, as whole, return to
simpler modes Of life.
Short of that, it is only postponing
the day of reckoning to try and build
up the system on one side, while it is
being burned away In constant whirl
or pleasure and excitement on the
| other Few people realize how ire
mendous are the drains made on their
strength by the unnatural and extraV-
agant life they lead from day to day,
/ n 0lr7 V1Nk I.r4 L..
physical causes as these are becom-
ing more and more determining fac
tors in the Shrinking of families
There can be no doubt, however,
that in hundreds of cases this is the
result of deliberate intention. Many
women do not want to be bothered
with children. They grudge the inter-
ruption such an event would cause in
their crowded social life. have heard
women admit this was one of the
| principal reasons for their dislike of
children, and have known of terrible
| instances in circles where you would
| least expect to find such conditions
where the most desperate steps have
| been taken to avoid what would have
been regarded as a calamity.
The maternal instinct seems to
| nave been sacrificed to another class
| OF enjoymentS-the elegance and amen
| tiles of wealth and luxury. 1t is not
a question of better education or in
| creased refinement, for the old New
England families were both in a high
| degree, yet eight or ten or twelve chill
-dren were common in a household I
believe nerves on the physical side
and self-fndulgence on the moral are
| the principal causes of an evil which
| is spreading with terrible certainty.
and which can only be remedied, as
far as can see, by a revolution in
our modes of thought and life"
Affection Lavished on DOGS.
THE American woman cares more
for her dog than for her child" said
Dr. Shrady, in talking on the subject
She Will take her pet out for a drive
with her in her carriage every day,
While the child is left to the care of
nurses. In the old times children were
| source of pride; now they are con-
s1dered almost disgrace, and certain
ly misfortune. 1t is no longer fash
lonable to be the mother of more than
one or two children, and these are
left mainly in the care of servants.
There are some American families,
fortunately some of the best, Who have
not yet adopted these iedas, and they
furnish our best grounds for hope in
the future.- The country was built up
Dy the choicest and most Virile blood
from Europe and tits terrible to watch
this strain dying out and to find We are
relying for our due increase in popula-
ton on the trash that the crowded
cities of the Continent ship to us. The
birth rate ultimately is at the bottom
or country's history, and today we
have to look for it's maintenance more
TO foreigners and less and less to ma
tive Americans. 1t is no exaggeration
to say that the logical issue will he
round In the passing of the native blood
that made the country famous, and the
handing over Of the splendid heritage
to strangers"
Need Is Urgent.
There is an urgent need that the
educated classes should be made to
realize the significance of the present
state of affairs" said another promi-
nent physician, who was unwilling to
allow his name to be used, "for the
whole future rests with them. Men
and women too easily forget their duty
TO their country in this respect, and
even when reminded they are inclined
| to leave the missionary work to 9TH
ers and not burden themselves with
| the tax of children.
Women are the worst offenders
Just as 1t is on them that the bur-
den falls most heavily, and it is be-
coming harder task every day to
teach them to regard motherhood as a
cause for pride and honor rather than
for blame and regret. The growth of
luxury L believe to be mainly respon-
| Slble for the views now in vogue. for
| few are willing to incur the trouble
and give the time which the rearing
| of family demands
Economic conditions also play an
important part in the situation, for
the high standard of living makes par
ents unwilling to increase their ex-
penses, while the exigencies of life in
crowded city where rents are high
and so many thousands of the popu-
| iatlon live in flats also initiate against
| the growth of family.
What should l do with children?
Make them saleswomen in a store or
errand boys in a bank?' woman ask
| ed me the other day. Her problem
in part was justly presented. but when
We reflect on how prominently men
| who rose from far smaller beginnings
| figure in the history of the country.
we see how vicious is point of view
| which attempts to suppress such vast
potential energies