The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1916-03-21
BIRTH-RATE
On Decline On Account Of
Absorption Of Woman
In Industry

London, March 1.-THE subject ot
the decline of the birth rate in Euro
pean countries is discussed at length
in the Journal of State Medicine by
Sir Thomas Oliver, of the University
OF Durham, the famous British au
thority on occupational diseases.
The increasing absorption of youne
women into spheres of commercial
and industrial activity" he writes
while tending to tighten the burden
OF parental obligation, is creating
problems which in their final issue
concern the future of the race. AS
effects of the withdrawal of female
life into industry, mention may be
made OF the weakening of the home
instincts, love of independence, and
growing taste for pleasure and ex-
citement, so that If marriage Is en-
tered upon, there is growing unwill-
ingness to accept the duties and re-
sponsibilities of motherhood"
In his conclusions, Sir Thomas
comes directly to the civilization of
the times. He points out how local
expedients, like Industrial legislation,
are purely temporary, how checking
the sale of drugs and such methods
are merely skimming the surface, and
calls attention to the fact that evolu-
tion is at work, and that the race
that, for its own ease, seeks to set
ASIDE the natural courses is merely
playing a brief game where Nature
is sure to win. The root of the diff
Guilty Of which decrease in birth rate
is a symptom lies deep and may per-
haps presage the decline and fall Of
another civilization.
When the German birth rate began
to show material decline, the govern
ment investigated. 1t was found that
the foreign element reproduced at a
higher rate, and this being true in Po.
land with its own language and ma
tional characteristics, it was evident
to the authorities that there would be
raised problems of politics, govern
ment and religion The Germans
likewise determined that the greater
falling off was among the better class
es. There were attempts to correlate
the greater losses with the university
and educated classes, the clement
which is most essential to conserve.
The problem that the nations face
is to avoid the rate of Rome AMI Ath-
ems. It is claimed that these great
civilizations fell be 9eause of the in.
sufficient number of children born
within the leading races.
Since the battle OF Waterloo, a cen.
tury ago, France has increased one.
third, Great Britain and Ireland have
doubled in population, Germany has
quadrupIed hers and Finland has in
creased three times! Italy stands at
One-half more than in Napoleon's day,
and Austria has Increased $50 per
cent.
DIR. Oliver furnishes some interest.
ing figures, on authority of Fricks.
regarding the population of ancient
Rome and modern Italy. The number
of inhabitants at 22D B. G. is set at
22,000,000. BY 2 Al D., it was less
than half this figure, and decreased
to 100000 two centuries later. At
the opening Of the second Punlc war,
there were 2700 0O0 citizens fit to bear
arms and at the time of Augustus
there was doubt whether $4,000 men
could be raised. This reduction took
place during long period Of peace,
and Is an example of nation which
has attained a hign position in civili
Zation and then throws aside those
implements which have enabled her
to gain this position,
"A nations worth" writes Sir Oil
yer, like a nation's hope, rests not
necessarily On one class of society
but upon the members of all classes
who are thrifty, who are leading nor
NAL lives and who are discharging
simple duties to tho family and the
state"
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