Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-08-01
'INeRE CAN'T Be TOO MANY BABIES"


THERE CAN'T Be TOO MANY BABIES"
Des Motnes' annual school census
affords figures which show less than
two children Of school age TO the fam
lily. OF about $4,000 families in that
city, nearly 5000 exist without child
Of school age. The other 10000 odd
families average less than three chill
dren. There are e4.5sS persons IN Des
Noines between the ages Of and FL.
On the schoo, census the boosters who
have been extending Des Moine< pop
ulation at leaps and bounds have
something to explain.
But think OF it, Nearly 5000 fami-
lies, almost half the families in Des
Moines without children of school age!
And mark also, that the smallest num-
Der OF children is IL the Grand avenue
section, while the largest is in the
working district of ,Sevastopol.
1t is a day Of small families and
high-powered automobiles. Sometimes
it is hard to keep up to the pacemak-
ers socially and keep family at the
same time. Then, TOO, children are
such a bother. They keep us at home
so much. Also, it is to be noted the,
Soandso's children are no particular
credit to him. There's q lot of respon-
sitdlity goes to raising child. 1t is
expensive also. You've got to go with
out yourself il you raise children.
Sometimes II seems easier and more
fun to live for and with other people
than to have our own to live for and
with.
But in the long run 1, isn't. That
theory works well up TO 30. 1t is an
awful failure beyond Not that amuse-
ment and social monkey business pals
on the person after that age. but be-
cause about that time the selfish seek
ers for pleasure and evaders of respon-
sibiIity find them selves out OF it, alone
and lonesome. There isn't in all the
world as lone and los, a creature as
the woman who has denied herself
chill dren in order 10 have a soo-1 I'll: e
when she arrives at the passe stage.
She's old and shows 1t, old and feels
it, and the gay and pleasure loving
need youth in order TO keep up the
game. II is quite as true OF the man
without, children. He Is lonesome and
out Of it. His false teeth and toupee
deceive NOBODY. He can take his
choice, give II up and envy other men
their boys and girls or keep up the
pretense and see younger men smile at
his efforts IN the contempt youth all
ways holds toward old age when old
age plays the clown and fool.
A childless family isn't a family at
all It IS a camp, bivouac, pair OF
matrimonial hoboes faring thru fair
and fruitful land without part or stake
In the country It is an evanescene
thing. here today and gone tomorrow
often unwept and usually unremem-
beree. It IS an incident !. brings
and leaves nothing It doesn't pay
itself or other people for living. And
II doesn't more than half live. any
vav. It is utterly mortal and Of the
aav. such earthly immortality as can
he attained comes only with our chill
6ren. In them we live again and con-
tinue 10 be.
The world needs children. and those
who live IN the world and are the
world need them. why, Martin, there
can't be too many babies to house.
says old Uncle Nat in "Shoreacres-"
There ought to be children in every
house for the chtldren's sake and the
sake Of the home, and there ought TO
he no city on the face Of the earth
where half the homes are chfidless
The selectmen Of killingsTorth
killed the beauty of the groves and the
sweetness of the morning when they
slaushtered the birds. The beauty anc
sweetness Of life comes and goes with
-ba children. Around the world IL
rms with the sunrise. the ripple OF
| childish laughter and the pipe OF chic
] ..o,oes AZ necessary to human nappi-
mass and hope as the sunshine. There
can't be too many babies 10 mouse.