1902.] THE FARMER AS A CITIZEN. 99 



the people who are at the table." There was not a married 

 couple at that table, and they were all as old as we were, that 

 had less than ten children. The Anglo-Saxon race would not 

 have been what it is, and it would not have dominated the 

 world as it has if that had not been the case. One of the most 

 remarkable things in the history of the human race is the in- 

 crease in English-speaking people since the reign of Queen 

 Elizabeth. There were only a comparative few of them, ac- 

 cording to the best knowledge we have, in the reign of Queen 

 Elizabeth. But, now look at them, not only in the British 

 Islands, but all over the world. Look at them here. Sta- 

 tistics show this: that taking all the people of the world 

 speaking different languages the Germans have increased 

 eight per cent., the French have fallen off ten per cent., the 

 Spanish have done the same thing fifteen per cent., whereas 

 the English-speaking people have increased two hundred 

 and seventeen per cent. That is speaking from the beginning 

 of the last century. That comes from various causes, but the 

 principal cause in this country, aside from the large emigra- 

 tion which has taken place from Europe, and from different 

 countries, has been the strength of the race. This increase 

 has been something phenomenal, and it is due to the strength 

 of the race, and shows, primarily, that more children have 

 been born of that race in proportion than of any other. That 

 has been the case in generations past, but, unfortunately, it is 

 not so here today. I believe in good-sized families. But, 

 if you are going to have children in the family, what is the 

 good citizen going to do with them? There are some families 

 whom I have seen who simply feed and clothe their children, 

 and, perhaps, send them to school, and that is about all they 

 do. I cannot think of anything else. They hardly ever 

 speak to them, and never take any interest in any of their 

 doings. Those children are not getting any advantages ; they 

 are going back. And do you suppose that men who will make 

 good citizens can be reared in that way? No. It is absolutely 

 impossible for them to be. Don't do it; don't, don't, don't. 

 To my mind the good citizen will take part with his children 

 in their play; he will take an interest in everything that the 

 children take an interest in. He cannot get along without it; 

 he will play with them himself, and he will not forget one 

 thing. Do you know what is the distinguishing characteristic 



