The daily sentinel., 1910-09-24
BABES TOO FEW IN ENGLAND.

London. Sept. ga new and
graver turn is given to the race-sui-
eide problem in England by the dis
covery that the decline in the birth
rate is reaching down into the sturdv
working classes in the rural districts.
In the county of Essex. for instance,
which, by the latest returns, appears
to be the healthiest in the British
isles, the rate of births is more than
two points lower than 1t was only
two years ago. The decline seems to
be steady from year to year. An ex-
tended inquiry is to be made in all
the country districts in the hope CT
finding out, and. If possible, remedy
ing the conditions
According to the annual report of
the county medical officer of Essex.
DR.. Thresh. the death rate for the
past year was but l0.T per 900, as
compared with an average of 14.5 for
England and Wales. the population
being 100000 against this. The
birth rate last year was 22.S5. as OPP
posed to 25.1 couple of years ago.
The birth rate in Essex shows a more
rapid decline than in most of the
counties of England The Essex
birth rate varies from $40 in Shoe.
Jul HSSS " io.A III bTeuIWOOu among
the towns. and from 2T.2 in Orsett to
1928 in Halsted among the villages.
DR.. Thresh says he hopes the COM
mon sense of the people will before
long put an end to the decline, which
is serious menace to the prosperity
of the country" Eastman, in Essex.
the doctor says, probably contains
larger proportion of laborers and per-
sons of the poorer class than any 9TH
er of the large centers of population.
The results that indicate the fail in
the birth rate are even more mar ked
among such people than among those
of better class. Infants stand a
better chance of life in Essex than in
any other county. the death rate be-
ing only so per 1000. Consumption
and fevers are only half as prevalent
as in the average county. and-more
singular than all else-one-half of
the entire population is more than 65
years old.
The same phenomenon of a decline
in the birth rate in the rural dis
tricts is occurring in France, where
it is ascribed to peace and thrift. On
the other hand. statistics from the
leading cities of Europe and America
show the birth rate is increasing in
all of them where there is much
stress of industrial competition. The
extraordinary efforts which all civil
lized cities are now putting forth in
the conservation of life. through SAN
itation and by the public care of the
school children and their Industrial
education. are all tending to encour-
age the birth rate.
One great historic fact, as recently
pointed out by Count Tolstoy. has be-
come almost submerged in the world
wide discussion over race suicide.
That fact is that the birth rate of the
nations involved greatly increases af-
ter Il war. and then gradually de-
clines as the gap in the ranks of
those lost in the combat fills up.
Population seems to regulate itself
by the strictly selfish law of self-in-
terest, except that in a general way
there is tendency to slow down, SO
to speak. unless some strong impulse
is constantly applied, just as human
individuals tend to settle back on a
mean level of effort IL they are not
jolted along by the stern prod of ne
cessity. Colonization schemes and
the opening of new lands are in
clined to increase the population not
only in those lands but in the coun-
tries to which the colonies most
strongly and naturally appeal. War.
however is the greatest stimulator of
population.
Wa haya two lind orfead Furnaces