The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1904-02-25
DECREASING RAPIDLY.
Birth Rate of the Bay State Has Fallen
on Very NOticeably i'm the
last Few Years

Birth Rate of the Bay State Has Fallen
on Very Noticeably in the
last Few Years.
Massachusetts, is facing the alarming
fact that while there was big increase
in the number of marriages in 1902, the
birth rate has fallen Off so noticeably
that Sweden and France are now the
only countries where fewer children are
born per 1000 of the inhabitants than
in the Bay state. The news is found in
the sixty-first annual report of Births,
Marriages and Deaths in Massachu-
setts,' edited by DR.. Francis A. Harris,
one OF the medical examiners in Suffolk
county. DR.. Harris says:
."The birth rate for 1902 is the lowest
since 1879, and decrease of 40 per cent,
from the previous year. Doubtless eco
nomic conditions of the population have
an influential effect on the number of
births by increasing or decreasing the
number OF marriages, but to what extent
IL is difficult to determine. In the num-
Der OF births the children of the for
elgn born mother are largely in excess
over the native.
The average birth rate for 1888
was $3.50 per cent. for native-born liy-
ing blrths.a and 1904 for foreign; the av-
erage of 1859-69 the native, 46.O6 and
1853 foreign; the average of 1S69-73
was 40.54 for the native and 484S for
foreign; -1874-7S, average 1852 for ma.
tive and $3.50 for foreign; average 1879.
SO, 41.6S for native and Al. 80 for foreign.
In 1880 the percentage Of native-born
was 1892, foreign-born, 441O; and in
1900 the percentage was BIAS for native,
1880 for foreign-born.
The number of marriages registered
In Massachusetts in 1902 was 25,685,
which was 794 more than in 1901 and
1,543 more than in 1900, and greater
than in any year since the beginning of
registration. The number of persons
married for each 1000 of the estimated
population was 17.4S, so that the num-
Der OF marriages to each 1000 was S.74.
fhe marriage rate. as calculated from
the estimated population, was oil less
than the average rate for the decade
1S93-l9O3, but the number of persons
married was greater than in any year
since 1850"
Some singular facts are brought out
in the report In the town of New Ash
field there was neither marriage, birth
nor death. Gosnold, a Martha's Vineyard
town, nearly equaled this record, having
neither a. marriage nor death, but it
did have one birth. In Gay Head there
was one rriage, one birth and no
| deaths. Seven sets Of triplets were
born, aggregating IA boys and seven
girls. Four bridegrooms out of the 25,-
685 married over 80 years of age. Three
| women became brides at between IS and
80. Seven girls married at the age of
IA and 20 at the age of 15 The young
est boy married was Is years old.
Cunning Process Server.
The credit man of large department
| store recently told ME of shrewd
trick played by one of his process serv-
ers. 1t may be old to others, but 1t
was new to me. A debtor had tried to
hide by changing his residence and
leaving false address with the janitor
at the old place. The process server,
having vainly searched for him at the
false address, went back to the store,
made a large package of excelsior,
| wrapped it in bright red paper ad-
| dressed it to the debtor at his OLD
| placed, and mailed it in the branch
| postofice Then he waited near the
| carriers door until a postman came.out
| with the readily recognized package.
The rest was easy, for, of course, the
debtor had given his right address to
the post Office people, and the package
was too big for the postman to conceal.
| The process server merely followed the
package and found his man.-Brooklyn
Eagle.
| German Wares In England.
| The most serious menace to the British
| industry is the German invasion of the
English markets. This has been grow
! ing of recent years, and is now serious
| factor in the situation. Woolen cloths
and clothing made in Germany" are on
sale in nearly every important town in
the kingdom, and the qualities, style and
prices are such as to astonish English
| makers and tailors.
Chinese Record Of Flood.
L ~ lie %hn