The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1920-01-29
Condition More Vital Than An
other War-Or Than
Ten Others.
YELLOW SPECTER is SEEN
United States Looked To as Savior,
With National Decay as Wars Aft
ermath--MiddIe Class Most
Aftected-Babies Fewer
in Germany.

London well, it's not my funeral
said the sprucely dressed young Eng
lishman with collar of pre-war glossi-
ness, reading out the following para
graph in the corner of London club
'The birth rate per 1000 persons
living in England and Wales in 1918
was TIT, as compared with 34.1 per
1000 in the ten years 1880 The
rate in Cheshire is only 1919 per 1000,
and that in London 16.1. The end of
the war shows no check in what is
really national suicide.
ITS not my funeral" he repeated.
But it was.
1t was not only his funeral, but per-
haps the funeral of race. "D-n
posterity!" said the Irishman. what
has posterity ever done for me?" The
European is saying the same.
This is no scare. 1t is fact. It Is
more vital than another European
war--or than ten Others 1t is more
mortal than the Influenza. 1t is more
dangerous than an anarchist bomb in
every street. For Europe, it is the
only thing that matters.
1t is al very old world.
Here in London at election time we
run two giant ladders side by side up
the face of one of our tallest buildings.
AS the results come in, the figures on
the ladders, representing the Liberal
and tory parties, race each other up
the building. Rearing their height
over Europe's weary, war worn
masses, two ladders are seen today.
On one is the figure of death. On the
other, the figure of a little rosy child,
death racing against life. And death
is winning.
"The End of the Race"
sThe End Of the Race" current
cartoon, shows Europes last baby in
the year 1900. A halo is shown about
it's wizened head. It's bones show
through its tortured skin. It is sur
rounded by adoring millions of aged
Europeans of both sexes, the last of
their race. It is only cartoon.
But?
In the death that comes in the roar
of a gun and the crash Of shell we
have forgotten the death of the great
silence.
Twenty years ago France used to be
held up as Europe's horrible exam
pie France, the country where,
after America, the baby was king.
There are those who say today that
the war has completed what the
French nation began. There are
skilled sociologists who believe that
France, once the glory of the old
world, is dying dying because she re-
fuses to live. Patriotism and pride
keep closed the mouths of her great
men. But is not today's Europe a
greater France?
Except in this one thing figures can
be- made to prove anything. But the
mathematics Of birth and death are
inexorable. There is no room for
doubt.
Europe, to use a pungent American
ism, is ION the toboggan." There are
omens as pOrtentOus and inevitable
as that sinking feeling before sea
sickness. Bonuses for babies" is Eu-
ropes. Here in England we have
already raised that S. O. S. France
tried it and failed.g Will Europe?
The above applies to all classes, but
to the middle class it comes with fate
full intensity.
Middle Glass Most Affected.
While, with better conditions, fall
ing death rate among the working
classes has during the last 30 years
to some extent compensated fora fall
ing birth rate, the accentuated fall Of
the middle class birth rate has no fall
ing death rate of any kind to compen-
..>sx-. nnsaa rn oilA