Graduate School 133 



it is much more likely to be on the basis of what they are 

 than on what they have. 



At this point a voice from a former generation cannot 

 forbear to comment on one matter which can throw our 

 generally favorable picture of the financial affairs of the 

 graduate student badly out of line. To the astonishment 

 of sociologists, population experts, and what used to be 

 referred to as prudent men, the current younger generation 

 has suddenly reversed the long-term trend toward smaller 

 famihes. This is not the place to discuss all the compli- 

 cated issues that go into the making of such choices. 

 Nevertheless, I can't help pointing out that children do 

 make demands on parents and in one way or another 

 hamper their freedom of action. Sir Francis Bacon put the 

 matter in his usual penetrating and forthright way when 

 he said, "He that hath wife and children hath given hostages 

 to fortune." Much as one may sympathize with the Ameri- 

 can girl's wish to demonstrate her biological soundness as 

 early as possible, it should seem that one such demonstra- 

 tion should suffice during the family's graduate school 

 stage. A baby every year reminds one of a quotation from 

 another great Elizabethan, "The lady doth protest too 

 much, methinks." 



It should be obvious that more than one or at the most 

 two children greatly increase the family budget. A larger 

 apartment, mounting medical expenses, increased outlays 

 for food and clothing, all make financial demands which 

 are hard to meet even with the dependency allowances 

 included in some fellowships. If for any reason the mother 

 is unable to carry a full load of work even temporarily, 

 the cost of additional help can throw a young family into 

 debt in almost no time at all. 



The financial problem is not the only or even the most 



