New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-09-04

there have been awarded to 663 mothers. in ad-
dition to diplomas. $1,000 francs. 1t must be
understood that all these mothers raised their
children at the breast. in speaking Of which
DR.. de yelling says that according 10 statis-
tics in France the number OF deaths Of children
raised at the mothers breast was 90 per
cent, while those raised upon cows milk
Ills per cent; upon condensed milk 15-4S per
cent; sterilized milk, 21.S9 per cent, and upon
oxygenised milk 1858 per cent
If every French city did what the society IN
Rouen is doing there would be a less number OF
economical writers bewaning the depopulatiOn
of the country and a less number weeping over
the loss OF AIsace-LOrraine.
A celebrated Partisan author recently re-
marked: IN 1900 the population Of European
nations was 9S,OOOOOO. OF which France pos
sessed 26OOOOOO In 1900 the figures were
respectively 343,OOOOOO and 3S.OOOOOO. Thus.
in one hundred years France fell from 26 per
cent TO II per cent Of the total European popu-
Iation."
It will be remembered that at one time French
was spoken nearly all over the world. To-day
it is the language OF some 4j.OOO0O0. while Ger
man IS spoken by 100000 and English by
100000.
According TO official statistics the movement
OF population IN France since 1870 has been:
1872 361O2 921: 1876 36.9O5.TSS, increase.
500 SCI; 1881, 81 67204S. increase. 1920; 1856.
IS o1S 9O3. increase. $40 $50; 1891 3S3431 1872 in
crease 1242S9; 1896. 3S51T332, Increase, ia
40: 1900 IS 1861. 945. increase. 4+4.613.
Thus the increase fell from 100000 inhaoi-
tants a year 10 $4,000, to rise again to $1,000
The worst OF il IS that the small augmentation
OF the population is due 70 immigration. at
tracted by a charming and sweet life. In 1850
there were $4,000 immigrants; the last census
gives the figures at 1.O3T77S. So thus II is that
the excess Of deaths over births is a little more
than balanced.
From 1890 to 1895 Gernany's population In
creased BY 100000. In 1S41 II was about
equal 70 that OF France; at present 1t numbers
100000 souls In other words. to gain what
Germany does in four or five months France
REQUIRES five years II IS startling to add that
II the present proportion continues Germany
viii have in fifty years q population OF 1O0.-
100000 and France 100000 1t was MOltks
who remarked that Germany gained every year
a battle on France won by reason of the diff
ference of births in the two countries, being
annually 100000 more in Germany.
Up to 1850 France had been the first. after
ward the second Of European nations in regard
10 population. to-day Italy Is pressing it close
for the sixth place. In 1850. when France had
81. go 900 inhabitants, Italy had 23,61I.OOO; in
1900 the figures were. respectively, SS.s61,O45
ana 81. 449 754. being an increase in fifty years
OF 8 701 900 for the former and S,S33,OOO for ths
latter.
The proportion OF families in France who have
no children is 1858 per cent; those with one
child. 24.33 per cent; two children, 21e4; three
children, 1469; four children 9OT; five chill
dren, $40; six children. 3.O6; seven children.
267; number of children unknown, 2.17.
The principles Of the National Alliance, recent
ly founded in France. for increasing the popula-
ton eliminate the alarm created by this spectre |
Of depopuation which appears on every census |
sheet. They are these:
third class nation.
second-The evil is due 70 a diminution OF
births.
Third-The duty Of every citizen Is to con-
tribute TO the perpetuity of his country as well |
as defend il.
Fourth-Ths raising OF child is tax owed |
the state.
F1fth-To acquit this tax every family should |
rear at least three children.
Sixth-The tax families OF more than three /
children should be reduced.
Seventh-Infants should be protected In order i
to diminish tnfantie mortality.
The causes OF the depOpulattOn are many. One /
of the principal ones is the ambition which /
most fathers have for their children 10 rise TO l
high positions. It must be admitted that obi |
gatory instruction and the diffusion OF study I
nation have facilitated the designs OF these /
fathers. From this has come the flooding OF the i
professions. followed by a crowding of the cities /
at the expense or the country. and consequently
the difficulty that citizen experiences in found
ing family.
Also, the pleasura loving economical sptr.t
which rules in France more than anywhere else
in the world. limits the number of children
SONS and daughters" say thousands mot only
deprive US OF many pleasures but they are rx-
pensive. Therefore will have no sons and
daughters"
spirit In certain departments OF Normandy
the eldest son theory exists. He Is the IN
heritor, ana mas no fear of having TO share
anything with others. Consequently he ia in a
position equal 10 that OF his parents This ts
the dream or all French fathers and mothers
Their design Is to protect their ofrsprtne asTns+
all the contingencies, the changes and chances
of life. ana the first protection they give then,
Is the least number OF competitors possible Ths
child u prOusht up 70 hate md fear compel