New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-01-07
FRENCH BABIES.
Proposed Remedies for Their Failure
to Increase.

Paris. December &c.
Never before was the crop Of French babies
so disastrously small in the year 1914. the
period covered by the latest census. There
were $4,000 babies Gn round numbers born
in 1904 and this is a falling off Of $500, as
compared with 1903. Meanwhile, the death rate
shows an increase of 1900 over that Of the pre-
vious- year The decrease of births, coupled
with an increase OF mortality, has been steadily
going on since 1870, that, so far as popula-
ton is concerned. France is burning the candle
at both ends. The military authorities, owing
10 the present strained relations with Germany,
appeal to the moral and sanitary influence Of phi
lsnthropists and feminism to remedy the present
sterility 1t is shown that while for ten thou
sand inhabitants the increase in France is only
nineteen, the increase for the same number in
Germany is 149. 1t is shown by the Ministry
Of War that the increase of population in Ger
many in the last two years is equal TO the en-
tire population Of Alsace-Lorrajne. The latest
statistics indicate a discouraging increase in in
FAINT mortality. 1t has been reckoned that one
hundred and fifty thousand infants die annually
in France; thus a small army is lost to the
nation either by want OF suitable food, or by
negligence on the part of the mothers. To
check this mortality innumerable societies have
been set on foot intended to relieve the women
of the poor of part. at least. Of the burden of
maternity by furnishing the children with free
fond and the care which adverse circumstances
and poverty prevent the mother from giving
herself Every little life saved is a distinct gain
10 the community, but If this work were being
carried on on far larger scale than can be
claimed for II at present the results would not
satisfy economists. A proposition was brought
forward al the Ministry of the Interior which
is aimed directly at the peasant, through his
budget The suggestion is to institute in France
Iaf Nv
United States with the object of establishing
a numerical ratio between the cost of living TO
q head and the income. The American inquiry
proved-and the result has been aimed at
in Germany-that the cost of living diminishes
in proportion as the income increases. In other
words as a mans income increases, his food
costs him relatively less On the other hand,
the American inquiry OF 1901 established at the
same time the fact that an increase in the num-
her Of children sent up the cost of food and
clothing in a far greater proportion than that
OF lighting. heating and housing.
To est ablish such statistics these in France
II would be necessary to obtain particulars from
a large aumber Of families in each class
throughout the country, but TO get the French
peasant TO present TO official inspector
cory Of his private expenditures is a weunigh
hopeless matter. The strongest characteristic
Of the peasant Of this country is his impene-
trable reserve matters that touch MS pocket
an !ngrained pride and caution an instinct 10
hide his money rather than take his banker into
his confidence II was this characteristic that
n ade France so slow in adopting the principles
Of ANAL savings banks and insurance. BY toll
and thrift the peasant lays sou 10 sou and hides
them away I'm his wooden hedstead that he may
give his only daughter dowry and leave his
only son a small capital with which 10 work
the small inheritance in store for him. the strip
of arabic land or vineyard. and the little bare
looking stone Ralsa VITA its snaau. hsx1aestoal.X