THE DECLINING BIRTHRATE 1 69 



English, has already checked the importation of immigrant children. 

 To the immigrant unaccustomed to American ideals, children are 

 regarded as sources of revenue. A large family does not appear to him 

 in any sense a burden as it often does to the American parent ambitious 

 to send his children through college. When no law interferes, the 

 immigrant can soon find work for his young children as newsboys or 

 bootblacks and is apt to desire a large family for the sake of the revenue. 

 But the enforcement of child labor and compulsory school attendance 

 cannot but lead ultimately to a lower birthrate among the foreign-born 

 citizens of the United States. 



The dower has never become an institution in matrimonial affairs 

 in the United States. As is well known, it is firmly established among 

 the French and has been for several generations. It has never grown 

 up in the United States because it has not been necessary. The insti- 

 tution of dower is especially suited to countries where there is no super- 

 abundance of opportunity. Such is the case in France. Where it is 

 possible for the young man to begin at once without education the exploi- 

 tation of natural opportunities, as has been the case in the United States, 

 where with a reasonable amount of exertion he can in a few years amass 

 a competence, there is little need that the bride bring to her husband a 

 certain amount of capital. Neither is it important that the father think 

 about the amount of money he will be able to give the sons when they are 

 ready to start in business for themselves. Therefore, the young man 

 marries the girl of his choice without thinking whether or not she has a 

 dower. He expects to make his fortune by exploiting the natural 

 resources of his country. The American father has not given great 

 attention to the education of his sons as he has thought that they could 

 succeed just as he has done. In this way the presence of undeveloped 

 natural resources in the United States has always been a factor operating 

 to prevent the growth of forethought among the American people. 

 Solicitude for children has not been necessary. As long as there was 

 the possibility of going farther west and, without special preparation, 

 accumulating a competence in a comparatively few years, there was no 

 reason for postponing marriage or desiring smaller families. But of 

 late conditions have changed. More care is needed in training children 



