New Britain herald., 1924-11-19
Nliteracy h Connecticut;
 Among Native Born Whites;
 And M Other Countries

passed in no state and is equalled by seven states.
 The number of illiterates in Hart ford arc available through the T. s. census bureau. This brings us close to home. Out of total popu- lation of 1li,75s in Hartford. the tlllterates total 5,6s2. The total native white population in Hartford totals 67,945, and of these 92 arc recorded as illiterate.
 Illiteracy for all classes In the entire continental United States is GO per cent; of native parents. 2,5 per cent; Of foreign or mixed par ents, s per cent; of foreign born whites. 1S,1 per cent; of negroes, 22.s per cent.
 In foreign countries the percent age Of illiteracy compared with that in America Is in some cases much higher and In other cases much lower. In most cases the figures date ten or IS years earlier than the American census figures which are from 1920. so that Improvements made by 1920 are not available.
 North Europe Most Literate
 The record of having the least illi- teracy of any nation on the globe ap parently goes to Prussia, the chief state of Germany, where the per- centage derived from examination. of army recruits. and dating from 1910, was only 0O2 per cent. This would include males only. There is reason to believe that illiteracy among all classes would be perceptibly higher, but 1t would have to be many times as high to reach the low figure of one per cent. Evidently this high percentage of general education didn't do the Germans a bit of good in 1914.'
 The honor of having the next low est mark for illiteracy is shared by Denmark and Sweden. with Q.2 per cent, both gathered from army re- cruits in 1907 and 1911 respectively As in Germany, the figures for all classes probably would be higher. Switzerland comes next with 0.3 per cent. based on army recruits, The Netherlands show figures Of 0.S from army recruit and 2.2 from marriages.
 The United Kingdom likewise has a lower percentage than the United States. with 10 per cent, based on army recruits. while England and Wales has IS per cent, based on proofs of llteracy or illiteracy de- ducted from marriage licenses.
 Canada's figures are 11.0 per cent based on a population of over five years, the figures date from 1911.
 1lliteracy in France is rather as- tonishing. the figures for the popu- lation of over 10 years being 14.1 per cent; on army recruits, 4.3 per cent; on marriages Al per cent. The high percentage for all classes in France probably is due to immi- grafton, the percentage on army re- cruits probably being more approM- mately correct as to the native pop ulation.
 Where Ltteracy Lags
 Some Of the other countries in Europe yield astonishingly high fig ures: Austria, 13.7 per cent; Belgium 12.7; Bulgaria 65.5. but 25.4 for army yecruits; Greece 57.2, but 30. based on army recruits; Hungard 33.3; Ireland 9.2; Italy. S7. of those over 10 years of age, and S1.1 of army recruits; Portugal, including the Azores and Madeira, 68.9; Rou- mania, eos over ten years and fl. from army recruits: Russia 69. over 10 years and 61.7 of army recruits; Serbia, 78.9 over 10 years and 43.4 of army recruits; Spain 5S.7.
 1lliteracy in South and Central America is very high. from 92.7 fin Guatemala 10 43.4 in Cuba and 39.S in Uruguay.
 1lliteracy in Australia and New Zealand compares with northern Europe and is much lower than for native whites in the United States, except that in those countries illi- teracy is based only on an inability to read and refers only to the white population. excluding the aboriginals Of the interior
 Figures throughout this article were obtained from the New York World Almanac, regarded as standard and accurate statistical = IL I....