Evening journal., 1914-08-08


if it is not and can be regarded In
40 other light than an onerous task
imposed upon the Medical Profession
without its knowledge or consent,
and a sinking fund to the state,
feel 1t a duty incumbent upon me
to register my protest. / will take
this trinity up seriatim. This law
requires that all babies born in this
State, dead or alive, white, brown.
yellow. red or black, shall be regis
tered simultaneously. and here Is all
l have ever heard in support Of this
law. (a) Some other states have IL
and why not we? .(b) People have
some Of their best stock registered
end why not have our babies regis
tered? (c) II may be the means OF
establishing some fellows right in
property who has been a long time
away and lost his identity. Let us
examine the value Of this. (a) We
have other laws that arc backed by
this excuse; must we acknowledge
that Delaware has become a little
luna, that shines by borrowed light,
or mere echo in the sisterhood Of
states? If Delaware is to follow
other States, what becomes of her
individuality? (b) If John Smith has
his colt or calf registered, he does Il
for a commercial advantage and pays
tor It. / am not willing 10 make
common chattle Of babies by putting
them in competition with colts and
calves. Co This is a very remote
contingency indeed, but for this
imaginary wandering Willie" let me
say, any man, who voluntarily aban-
dons home and friends and isolates
himself until he has forever faded
from the memory Of men, is no
longer entitled to identification or
property.
am opposed to any la that erects
a toll-gate across the ID highway
Of maternity. This is a word too
sacred to be handled promiscuously
to be touched without an introduc-
ton, and only then with the greatest
reverence and respect. It is an in
suit to any woman who hallows with
anxious wait and happy risk the word
of words-maternity, the hottest word
that ever dried with happy smile the
piteous tear, or freighted thought
from man to man in human speech.
This law says to the new-made
mother who has lowered her husband
with the wealth of her Iove, who
holds within her thrilled and thrill
ing arms" quivering Buster
Brown name your baby within thir-
~ days or l will levy fine of IS to
$40 on you
AS a matter of fact. It is nobody's
business when a mother names her
baby. Babies are often given many
names before the permanent one is
selected. This privilege or pleasan-
try is not the least among the many
that make up the grand total In the
new chapter of family history. I
have as yet to talk with a single
woman who is in favor Of this law.
Birthmarks. the result of prenatal
impressions, are well-known If not
understood and, what is true Of the
physical, is likewise true OF the men
tai The psychological moment we
know not, but we do know that Con
sequences are but conditions fruits"
end that back Of every effect there
is a full and ample cause. Whether
you know II or not, it is a vicious
principle that shadows a prospective
mother with a warning ano a threat
Man, by a mere BE II enacted" can
suspend or set aside 2 natural law
only to the injury of all II touches.
A woman in a delicate state" should
he unfettered, undenied. Everything
should be done, to the limit of the
possible, TO make the atmosphere in
which she lives and moves as serene
end natural as heavens blue-an at
mosphere in which joy and liberty
can meet and blend in the purest har-
mony of cause and effect
II 1t be wise to have the ages Of
all the children in this State, can IL
be- obtained without this law? Let us
see. First, we have the family re-
cord; the public school record for
seven years of the child's life; third,
We have the census enumerator
every decade; fourth, every two years
for the male population after the
twenty-first year.
Cost of this law.
Bow your heads, We sons of Aescu-
lapius. and give me your attention
while / name you a fee for writing
birth certificates, in point of service
below the dignity of any bootblack in
this State. Ten cents to the doctor
for writing a certificate, 25 cents to
the local registrar. 25 cents to the
recorder of deeds; cost of stationery.
cost of triple collins for each registrar
in which to keep his records, cost OF
State registrar, which in the sum
total will amount to several thousand
dollars annually for the taxpayers to
make good
Why pay tribute to the useless
This fee is paid to the physician by
county order. drawn on the county
in which he lives; and, in point of
immediate payment, in Sussex COun-
~. is about as profitable as a bill
on a grave yard.
have before me a letter from a
society in Wilmington asking aid
for the care of little children. This
letter further adds that II Gets nc
help from the State. . Better far, yes
thousand times better. that one
baby be fed and clothed by law than
a million numbered and named.
Give prominence to little Johnnie's
frontier with good wholesome food
clothe his body against the pain
given by seasons change; clothe his
mind in the garment OF thought
plant in his heart the flower of graft
tude and you will make II possible for
a useful life TO be born of generous
deeds and yourself the recipient Of
a rich reward in the glad knowledge
Of a duty well done.
Is there any sense in placing q
cookbook in the outstretched hand
Of a hungry Hobo when he asks
you for bread? Before dismissinl
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