The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1910-11-19
the falling off in the total of births
been so marked.


been so marked.
Previous to the Franco-Prussian war
the annual birthrate in France was
nearly one million, and subsequently
to the aimee terrible $4,000 births on
an average were registered, until the
year 1886, when an appreciate dim
mutton became apparent. l can recall,
In fact, at that period, the emotion oc-
casioned by this decrease, which con-
tinued, and became more accumulated
in subsequent years. Indeed, during
the last quarter of a century the down.
ward tendency has been steadily main
tanned. From over 100000 births an
nually registered the total has fallen
to 100000, and since 1906 this total
has dwindled, the statistics for the
last three years giving the figure of
100000 on an average annually, of liv-
ing children born into the world.
In 1909 births in France were
slightly superior to the number Of
deaths, but this fact, it is remarked,
may be accounted for by the fortuit-
GUS circumstances that last year the
summer was particularly temperate,
and abnormally cool.
This kept the death rate extremely
low, owing to the comparative absence
OF what are termed hot weather COM
plants, brought on by the use and
abuse of iced beverages, of fruit and
the like. Had the death rate for 1909
been normal, it is pretty certain to
use popular expression, more cof-
inns than cradles would have been re-
CURED" A depopulated country is q
country on the high road to ruin, ID
q trite but true remark, and periodi-
cally within the last % years legis-
lators, economists and eminent pub
lic1sts have studied the problem how
to avert what threatens to become
an obstacle to the prosperity and well
fare of France, and perhaps eventu-
ally the cause of her decadence.
All manner of suggestions and prop.
ositions, some sensible, others fan
tastic, have been brought under the
notice of parliament, and leagues
have been formed with the commend
able object of encouraging wedlock,
and rewarding parents of large fam
lilies. At one time, not long ago, it
was proposed in the Chamber of Dep
uties to increase the taxes of single
men, and decrease those of married
men, the said decrease being accen-
tuated in proportion to the number
OF children born to taxpayer. The
proposal, however, when examined
was found to be Of no practical value,
any more than variety of others
presented by deputies and senators,
most assuredly we'll intentioned, but
incapable Of suggesting a real remedy
for the evil.
1t is a proved fact that in France,
as in probably certain other countries.
the poor are generally more prolific
than the rich. In populous Partisan
faubourgs, the home of the working
man and laborer, the juvenile ele.
ment is noticeably larger than it is
in fashionable parks and squares
where smartly dressed nursemaids
have one or two little ones at most
to look after. DR.. Bertillon, who has
long years of experience behind him,
gives it to be his opinion that were
the state to hold a helping hand to
the working man, the rag-picker, the
street-sweeper, whose slender earnings
are inadequate to the task of filling
the mouths of half dozen little ones,
a step in the right direction would be
made, and infant mortality would be
lessened. A fund, he believes, set
apart for the assistance of married
couples or widows in straitened cir
cumstances, and with several children
to support, would be of incalculable
use in increasing Frances population
by decreasing the death rate among
children. of the poor who succumb in
such numbers to disease due to i'm
proper food, and a lack of sanitation
in their squalid dwellings.
A league was founded not long ago
In France to cope as far as possible
with the terribly high rate of infan-
tile mortality. At a recent meeting,
presided over by a member of the
government, the startling statement
was made that $4,000 infants per-
lished annually in France during the
first year of their existence for lack
of proper care. City-born infants Of
poor parents, as rule, are placed out
to nurse. Before the newborn child
is week old it is entrusted to the
care of mercenary baby-farmer, who
carries it off to some remote village
where its fragile hold on life speedily