The Washington herald., 1911-11-12
AMERICANS PREFER
SMALL FAMILIES
Is an Accusation Brought
Against Nation.
IS NOT TO ITS CREDIT
The Man Who Says sT Cannot
Afford Children" Has No Moral
Who Does Not Want Them
should Not Become a Wife.

study of the interesting young faces
that have appeared in The Herald in
the Borden Baby Contest has awakened
many and varying thoughts in the public
mind, some of which have come to me
in the form Of most pertinent questions
On single sheet of paper, without
signature, there came to me yesterday
this Interrogation. written in capital let
tiers:
WHY DO AMERICANS PREFER
SMALL FAMILIES?"
If my interrogator would put her ques-
ton to the American public 1 am con-
WINGED that the reply it would receive
would be:
I'VE cannot afford them.
Is this prevalent cry true?
1t depends upon whether our children
ere to be trained for the real values of
life or for its superiuities, for the things
that build character or those which Gre
ate dissatisfaction and unrest
The man who says Il cannot AFFORD
children has no moral right to marry.
The woman whose ambitions in any di-
rection will be hampered by motherhood
has not been trained to recognize the true
values in life or the meaning OF its high
est happiness. She who does not yearn
for the music of childrens voices in her
home should not become a wife. The gift
OF children is from God and is sacred
trust. There is infinite wisdom in His
plan, and we have no right to question
II by a refusal of His gifts.
Not Always Question of Money.
Ii is certain that it is not the question
of finances that abolishes babies from
millions Of wealthy homes, or even those
of comparative wealth; yet these are the
chiIdless homes, or where very small fam
lilies exist.
What is the cause?
Selhshness. and ignorance of the things
in life that make it worth the living
the things that build for eternity.
The modern woman has too much su-
perffuity in her life. The modern man
forgets the hours that nature demands
for relaxation, both mental and physical,
in his never-ending search for wealth, and
in the rush for things superfluous loses
the things that are real and conducive
of permanent happiness and peace AS
II the great God had not made each OF
us for an individual purpose, allowing in
His reckoning sufficient time for its
glorious fulflIment!
A mans plea that he cannot afford |
to educate more than a couple of chill |
a guilty conscience.
Give the little ones proper care; in |
still love Of beauty and purity; incul- |
cate high ideals; surround them with
clean honest living; train character, and
the lack Of money will not stand in the
way of their education. A student will
be student at all times, in all places,
under all circumstances.
Every Experience Teaches.
lyFo
son TO him. Self-denial will teach him
the true value of culture that is bought
at such a price.
1t is the early environment of home
that makes the man. In this day of free
schools, liberal scholarships, and of va
ried work that a boy or girl may do in
order to go through college, the poor
need not suffer for an education. Let
the parent realize the gifts that are valu-
able in life, and. instead of the ambition
to crafty every childish whim Of their
offspring, teach him to know that the
greatest things in life are not within
the reach of gold.
The child who is not taught the value
of work. both mental and physical, will
be morally deformed. The child of a
large family must make denials. That
is we'll BY self-denial he becomes unset
fish. The necessity which confronts him
to share with his brothers and sisters
develops generosity. His necessity to
fight his own battles is conducive Of
self-reliance, independence, and a GER
tain firmness of purpose that is to be
gained in no other way.
1t is because we fail to value Gods
plan that we defy it.
No Home Complete Without Them.
No home is complete where there is no
childhood. We need the contact with
these little human flowers. It is our
only hope Of simplicity in life; a valua-
ton Of its peace and quiet happiness
for the life that builds a home for
eternity.
No woman has reached the highest
capacity Of her womanhood who has not
felt the touch of her own babys lips, |
and God pity the man who has never
known a Little Boy BIueT'
Riches do not bring the highest happi-
ness. Fame leaves something yet to be
satisfied Social leadership is empty,
empty. Men have sung for ages of the
wonderful power called "mother-love,"
Of the purity and beauty Of little chill
dren. Jesus Christ said: ''Of such is the
kingdom of heaven"
Men have come all the way across the
world to shake the hand of the man who
wrote Little Boy Blue" No poems go
so deeply into the heart and the human
understanding as Eugene Fields songs
Of childhood.
Purest Thing in Life.
The influence Of a child in the home
IL the purest thing that life holds. Our
homes need 1t; our hearts need 1t; the
indweIling, eternal life cannot reach Its
completion without II.
Rather than exclude the Children from
our homes shut out the useless, mean
ingiess superiuities from life Utilize the
time God intends for the training, not
only OF intellects, but of grateful, loving, |
and obedient hearts, leaving the result |
TO the Divine Givsr Of Life, who makes |
no mistakes.
II wAtcr be OF little use when cleaning
lamp chimneys which havo become very
much blackened with smoke, the expert |
ent should be tried OF mixing a little |