Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-01-16

lieved she was twenty-one and clatmed
her inheritance. her father disputed her
age. and declared she was only nine<
teen. The family Bible was consulteds
but the leaf of the record was gone.
The court was in quandary. At last
a neighbor remembered that valuable
COW belonging to the grandfather had
given birth to a calf on the day that
the girl was born. and he could swear
to the coincidence.
Perhaps the grandfather had record
ed the date of the birth of the calf. His
farm books showed that he had done
40. and the date of the birth of the girl
was thus established. This story has
a cheerful ending: in too many In
stances hardship and loss have been
suffered because of a similar lack OF in
disputab BILE birth records"
Another of many examples recorded
NV the children's bureau shows that a
child born in this country of Swiss
parents was consigned to a life of pow
erty and drudgery because for want
of birth certificate she could not es-
tablish with the government OF Swift
zerland her right to legacy of $4,000
left her by a paternal uncle VINO died
in that country.
And so, the social workers who take
part in National Baby week win he
asked to make special feature OF
birth registration. They will be urged
to do all within their power to edu-
cate public opinion as to the vital rela-
tion this subject bears not only to per
sonal and property rights but to the
education and employment OF children,
and to infant mortality.
The part which the United States
government will take in promoting the
great baby publicity campaign OK
next March is interesting show
ing how the scope of government has
broadened within this country in the
last two decades. The fact that the
children's bureau stands back OF Ma
tional Baby week will have a far reach
ing effect in promoting all that per
tains to child welfare in America Ac-
cording to those figures which are AZ
present obtainable 1t is more dangerous
to be baby than to be a coal miner
It is roughly estimated that about one
in ninety of all the miners employed
In this country die every year from all
causes combined. Yet a calculation
based on census figures puts the NOR
tality among babies at l24 per 1000.
Because We have no adequate birth
rately shown how many babies are
born in our country year by year nor
how many babies die.
Dr. Wilbur. former vital statistician
OF the census bureau, estimates that
100000 babies die annually in the
United States before reaching the ago
of one year. The children's bureau. re-
ducing this estimate to terms of total
1T is as if Chicago. the second city
of the United States, were to be wiped
out of existence every ten years. not
single life being saved. 1t means the
humiliation each decade of popula-
ton as large as that of the state of
New Jersey. and greater than that OF
such states as Alabama. California.
Iowa. Kentucky, Minnesota, North
Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia or Wis
consin."
Such a statement grips the imagina-
ton powerfully enough. yet 1T does not
even touch upon the vast sum total OF
human anguish which 1t cost the
mothers of our country to give these
children to the world. nor their greater
anguish at losing them.
Infant mortality appears never so
tragic as when 1t is remembered that
the highest medical skill of the day is
authority for the statement that most
of ii is unnecessary. The New York
state department of health has adopted
for it's slogan these words. significant
of the enlightened spirit of the times:
Public health is purchasab1e: within
natural limitations community can
determine it's own death rate"
For decades past Uncle Sam has had
a corps of experts whose duties in
cluded the studying and remedying or
causes of mortality among the horses.
cattle and hogs of the country: With
in more recent years-a bit tardily, per-
haps, but with enthusiasm-the old ma n
has turned his attention to the babies
Surely it is such pet projects as Ma
tional Baby week that will keep in his
heart the glow of youth.