New-York tribune., 1903-03-15
FRENCH PROBLEM OF DEPOPULATION.
4 STARTLING PRESENTATION OF 1T EXPECTED
IN THE PLAY "MATERNITE," BY H. BRIEU4.

lowed by legislative reform in no less than SIX
instances. NJ Brieux unearthed the fallacies in
the system of popular education in 'Blanchette.
Of art in "Menages d'Artistes," Of science IN
"L'Evasion." OF bureaucratic routine in IL En-
grenage" Of the judiciary in Robes Rouges'
and Of the abuse of wet nurses in Les Rem
placantes" and now he is about to open heavy
artillery fire against depopuation and the shrk-
ing of marital obligations in his drama. Ma
ternite."
NJ. Breux is tall man cf athletic frame; his
bright blue eyes look at you with earnest frank
ness. I found him hard work on his Mater
mite" in his cosey little house III the Rue d Au-
male, Montmartre. His home is literally
overfowing with books, pictures and a profusion
Of sketches, carcatures and drawings by leadiLs
artists. NJ. Brieux a Pompeiian red jacket
: tightly buttoned about the neck. He stood in
front Of the mantel. upon which was a beautiful
marble statue OF Justice On his writing table
piled with papers and manuscripts. was Presi-
dent Roosevelts "Strenuous Life" Near the
table a telephone, which kept ringing in
cessantly. When l told NJ Brieux that l had
come to obtain his views depopulation, his
vigorous humanitarianism came to the fore and
he said: "Depopulation is the great problem
now before But. first Of ALL let say that
President Roosevelt's letter to Mrs. Van Worst.
| which has been translated into French has done
-
| Strenuous Life from beginning to end 1t is
full of splendid ideas, and let tell you that
think it is the most manly and most honest work
| that l have read. Mr., Roosevelt has my
admiration.
After closing his book my first impulse was
to write him and congratulate him on his
noble work. but on second thought l decided
it would be out of place for private individual
like myself to force my appreciation upon him
Anyhow. Mr.. Roosevelt in his ideas about the
family duty of begetting children strikes the
keynote for all reform in France we'll in
| the United States. You ask me for my ideas.
! will tell you. First of all. don't believe in
begetting children thoughtlessly- No. There
should be selection and responsibility The i'm
poverished. overworked alcoholic population
should not be encouraged to have large fam
lilies because this deteriorates the race. on
the other hand, couples in easy financial circun-
stances should be encouraged to have large
families The poor have too many Children-lpok
brittany. The rich have too few children
look at Paris The consequences of the station
arv birth rate will become a national disaster.
bur il is difficult estimate its effects be
| cause it Will take a century before they can be
felt 1t is our French system of the dot the
! dowry, which IS a great cause of the evil This
vain. pompous custom Of the dot prevents mar
riages and conduces to cellbacy. The well-to-
| do classes with ought to have an average or
| three children for each couple, This should be
! the motto with every French couple not in i'm
noverished circumstances Another great OBJ
stacle to marriage and TO chid-getting is the
| customs and unwrirten rules oN Partisan trades
men In some of the grs at shops in thH city no
! married employees engaged. and in several
| large grocery establishments those who marry
during their term of employment are discharged
! 1.-The Extra Parliamentary Commission crea'eo
| by NJ Waldeck- Rousseau has done great oeal
! Of good and we have all been working very
| hard, but far only statistics and data nave
been gathered together. and no practical remedy
has as far as am aware. yet been suggested
| have examined the able and original report
| of Ideutenant-Colonel Toutee, who proposes a