DECLINE IN THE BIRTH-RATE 195 



children themselves and in lightening the burden of 

 offspring on their parents. The probability that the 

 children of competent parents will be able to win 

 scholarships will be a motive of the right kind. More- 

 over, we may come to see that the most expensive 

 type of education is not a necessity. Even in matters 

 of education, there is a tendency to attribute far too 

 much effect to outside and expensive environment, 

 and to lay too little stress on heredity and the tradi- 

 tions of the family. 



Each age has accused itself of increasing luxury, 

 probably with a considerable amount of truth, since 

 there is a natural growth of comfort as the arts and 

 sciences improve the conditions of life. But the 

 special forms that the rising outlay of the present 

 generation has assumed of late years have helped to 

 intensify the restlessness and desire for change and 

 excitement, the gratification of which is made possible 

 by improved means of locomotion and communication. 

 The great hotels, caravanserais, and restaurants, both 

 at home and abroad, stand out as landmarks of the 

 gradual disintegration of family life. They represent a 

 state of mind absolutely incompatible with the quiet 

 privacy appropriate to the upbringing of a growing 

 family ; and seem to emphasize the desire for variety, 

 for luxury, for society, without any attendant duties 

 and responsibilities. 



The entrance into the upper ranks of our people 

 of increasing numbers of persons, of various nation- 

 alities as well as our own, whose newly acquired 

 wealth is not associated with definite territorial or 

 local associations, has doubtless affected, and to some 



