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CHAPTER XIII
THE INTERESTS OF POSTERITY
At the present critical time when the gigantic struggle
between civilised nations inflicts tremendous loss of life,
and is accompanied by a rapid falling off in the birth-rate,
the question how to repair the enormous damage, and
possibly improve the conditions of regeneration in the
future, seems to be of paramount importance.
The supposition that the declining birth-rate of the
populations of Europe is a matter of congratulation in
consideration of the alleged shortage of the world’s
food-supplies does not hold good, since Russia and Rumania—
having concluded peace—are now again at liberty to devote
their energies to the production of food-stuffs ; and America,
according to latest information, will have a big surplus of
corn to be exported abroad this year. But apart from
this consideration, there cannot be any doubt that the
decline in the birth-rate deserves the most careful
attention and organised endeavour in order to counteract it.
All efforts to elucidate the problem and to make
proposals tending to cope with this social evil should be
welcome.
It is common knowledge that the existence of the race
in its ultimate issue rests with the woman. If she does
not conceive, give birth, and rear the future generation,
all man’s energy in conserving human life is in vain. It
has, therefore, been ordained by nature that womanhood
should be the primary factor in the very existence of the
human race. Woman’s part in the plan of Creation is
indeed far the noblest, most responsible, and important.
But from a physical point of view she is the weaker vessel
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