1 48 DA R WIN ISM A ND RA CE PRO CRESS. 



farm, but half the farm would be a piece of pro- 

 perty upon which no one could live an independent 

 existence. 



It is necessary, therefore, that this property should 

 be passed on intact, and this can be done when on 

 an average a farmer brings to maturity two children. 

 Of these, on an average, one will be a boy and the 

 other a girl, so that by adjustment farmer A can 

 marry his daughter to farmer B, and marry the 

 daughter of farmer C to his own son. In this case 

 the son of farmer A gains by his wife's dowry what 

 his family lost by his sister's marriage. As a result 

 of this artificial limitation of the family, the popula- 

 tion of France remains stationary, there is no pres- 

 sure of numbers, and by thrift and care the people 

 are prosperous and happy. While, however, this 

 may suit the convenience of individual French men 

 and women, it is fatal for the future of the French 

 race, who are becoming insignificant in numbers and 

 influence as compared with those nations whose 

 citizens have more fully accepted the duties of 

 parenthood. It is interesting in this relationship to 

 contrast the births, deaths and marriages, together 

 with the estimated population of France, with those 

 of the United Kingdom, which may be done by ref- 

 erence to the following table taken from Tables 40 

 and 54 of the Fifty-Fourth Annual Report of the 

 Registrar General's Returns, 



