EUGENICS 379 



The studies of various investigators show a higher birth rate 

 among unskilled than among skilled laborers. Members of the 

 latter class usually marry later in life, although this is not neces- 

 sarily the direct cause of smaller families. Professional men 

 usually have smaller families than any of the classes mentioned 

 and consequently a lower birth rate, but the intellectual classes 

 are the worst offenders in this respect. 



Data derived from several sources on the percentage of mar- 

 riages and the number of children per family among the graduates 

 of several colleges and universities disclose the following facts: 



1. Graduates of colleges marry later than persons who have 

 not attended college. 



2. A low percentage of college graduates marry, viz., about 

 75 per cent of the men and less than 60 per cent of the women. 



3. The number of children in the families of college graduates 

 is low. "The average for Wellesley graduates between 1875 and 

 1899 was .83 of a child." Cattell's studies of scientific men show 

 that they have a little better record with almost 90 per cent 

 married and 1.88 children each in the completed families. 



Since an average of more than three children per family is 

 necessary for maintenance without increase, it is obvious that the 

 intellectual classes are not maintaining themselves. When we 

 consider that college graduates include chiefly men who enter the 

 professions or become capable business leaders, the conclusion 

 becomes even more significant. 



The Causes of a Differential Birth Rate. The gradual low- 

 ering of the birth rate in the ascending scale of ability and 

 intelligence and the fact that it has been found impossible to 

 correlate these things definitely with the fertility of individuals 

 suggests that it is rather the economic status and the foresight 

 of parents that determines the rate of reproduction. Parents who 

 have little or no sense of responsibility for their children produce 

 the most. The higher the standard of living, the less children are 

 produced. Many other factors enter into the problem but this 

 alone seems to be constantly applicable. The cost of raising 

 children properly is high. Education, especially higher education, 

 is expensive even though children of college age may be ready to 

 assume a part of the burden of their own maintenance. It is only 

 natural that these things should force parents with high ambitions 

 and a keen sense of responsibility for their children to limit the 



