CHANGES IN NEW ENGLAND 
POPULATION. 
By NATHAN ALLEN, M. D., LL. D. 
[Reprinted from The Popular Science Monthly, August, 1883.] CHANGES IN NEW ENGLAND POPULATION. 
NATHAN ALLEN, M. D., LL.D. 
[REPRINTED EROM THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY, AUGUST, 1883.] 
IN the history of a nation or a people there are sometimes important 
changes taking place, so gradually and quietly that they are scarce- 
ly perceptible at the time. It may require a series of years or several 
generations to work out the problems involved, but they may be fol- 
lowed with results of great magnitude. 
Some changes of this character have been taking place in our New 
England population, which we purpose here briefly to notice. In the 
earlier history of New England there were few changes in the resi- 
dence of her people. As agricultural pursuits constituted their prin- 
cipal occupation, the same farms and lands continued to a great extent 
in the same families from generation to generation. Prior to the 
Revolutionary War very little emigration took place out of New Eng- 
land. In the early part of the present century many persons removed 
to New York and some to Ohio. From 1810 to 1830 this emigration 
continued steadily to increase, not only to those States but to the 
States and Territories farther west. To such an extent had this emi- 
gration been carried on that, in 1840, the United States census re- 
ported nearly half a million of persons born in New England who 
were living in other States. 
Whenever new lands were thrown into market by the Government, 
or by means of railroads, or some new mining interests, then a " West- 
ern fever" started up, and great numbers might be seen "going 
West." While we have no means of ascertaining the exact number 
removing from New England, during any one year or period of time, 
the United States census gives, every ten years, the birthplace of all 
people residing in every State at the time the count was made. The 
census of 1880 reports that the whole number born in New England 2 
but living in other States and the Territories was 566,848. This num- 
ber is made up by emigration from the different States as follows : 
From Massachusetts, 175,349 ; from Vermont, 117,590 ; from Connect- 
icut, 108,797 ; from Maine, 93,256 ; from New Hampshire, 49,397 ; 
and from Rhode Island, 22,459. 
From another point of view it will be seen how these natives of 
New England are distributed. New York has 133,272 ; Illinois, 53,128 ; 
California, 46,908; Iowa, 38,170; Michigan, 37,865 ; Wisconsin, 
37,615 ; Minnesota, 34,636; Ohio, 32,819 ; Pennsylvania, 26,787 ; 
Kansas, 19,338 ; New Jersey, 18,148 ; and other States under 10,000 
and much less. Vermont has sent away the largest number for its 
population, and New Hampshire the least. Maine and Massachusetts 
have sent the largest delegations to California, being three fourths of 
all the emigrants in that State from New England. It appears by the 
census that the States bordering on New York-Vermont, Massachu- 
setts, and Connecticut-have sent over 100,000 persons to that State, 
while the other New England States have sent only some 20,000. The 
representation from New England (178,207) in the Middle States is 
much larger than is generally supposed. This emigration has now 
been going on for three fourths of a century, and it would constitute 
a fact of great interest if we could ascertain the number of persons 
born in New England who have ever removed from her borders to 
the Middle and Western States as well as to the Territories. 
The census of 1850 shows that at that time there were 454,626 ; in 
1860 there were 562,997 ; in 1870 there were 615,747, and in 1880, 
566,848. It will be seen by these figures that for twenty years the 
number has been very stationary, the new emigrants making not quite 
good the number who had deceased. 
It is full two generations since this emigration commenced. As 
nearly all those persons emigrating were between the ages of twenty 
and forty, great numbers must have died at various periods. The 
exact amount of this mortality it is impossible to ascertain, and the 
data for forming anything like a correct estimate are altogether too 
uncertain. It may have been a quarter of a million, and possibly a 
half million. What has been the effect of this steady and large drain 
of people on New England opens a question of much interest. 
Without entering upon the discussion of the subject, we make two 
or three suggestions. It will be admitted, we presume, that those 
young men and women, leaving their homes, possessed, as a general 
thing, more physical energy and mental stamina than those remain- 
ing behind. Such a loss of physical vigor and character must have 
had a decided effect upon business interests as well as the present 
state of society. But, from another point of view, the loss may have 
had a more decided and lasting influence, that is, in its permanent 
effect upon physical and mental development. The better the princi- 
ples of physiology are understood the more we discover what a pow- 3 
erful influence physical organization has upon the character of a peo- 
ple. The permanent prosperity of any community depends far more 
upon the laws of inheritance than is generally supposed. 
Let the most enterprising and promising among the young people 
emigrate from a place, and it must, in the course of time, have its 
influence. Whether the vital interests of New England have'not suf- 
fered in this respect, from so many persons emigrating in the prime 
of life presents a question worthy of careful consideration. 
Interchange of Population.-There is another change going 
on in these States quite different from the one described. This con- 
sists in frequent removals from one State to another. 
The census of 1880 shows that Massachusetts had at that time 
68,226 residents born in Maine ; 54,088 born in New Hampshire ; 
26,869 in Vermont; 20,514 in Connecticut ; and 17,067 in Rhode 
Island, making 186,764 persons who have removed there from other 
States. At the same time these five other States had 85,478 persons 
living in their bounds born in Massachusetts. Deduct these 85,478 
from the 186,764, and Massachusetts gains over 100,000, mostly from 
Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. 
There is very little migration from the other New England States 
to Connecticut or Rhode Island, and scarcely any from the latter to 
the former. Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island, make very 
nearly equal exchanges, neither gaining nor losing much. These re- 
movals from one State to another are prompted from a great variety 
of interests, personal and local. The States most benefited by them 
are those employed largely in manufacturing business. These changes 
are carried on chiefly between villages and cities, and seldom take 
place in the rural or country districts. It may be said that the foreign 
element is largely concerned in these removals. 
Country Life exchanged for the City.-This change is not 
governed at all by State lines. It commenced forty or fifty years ago, 
from country districts to places w'here trade or business demanded 
help. The introduction of manufactures and mechanical pursuits of 
various kinds, as well as the opening of railroads, created a great de- 
mand for laborers. By means of those changes and other agencies, 
trade and commerce became very much enlarged, and furnished em- 
ployment for increased numbers. 
Here and there new centers of business were formed ; new vil- 
lages sprang up, and large towns were converted into cities. In some 
parts of New England these removals have taken place to such an 
extent as to change the face of the country and the state of society. 
It commenced first in the small farming towns, and has prevailed 
most in places remote from markets and railroad accommodations. 
The effect of such removals is especially marked in Massachusetts, 
as she possesses a larger number of cities, more railroad facilities, and 
a greater diversity of pursuits. The census shows the following facts : 4 
That of 345 towns in Massachusetts, from 1845 to 1855, there was a 
decrease of population in 86 towns ; that from 1855 to 1865 there was 
a loss in 166 towns ; from 1865 to 1875 there was a loss in 142 towns, 
and the census of 1880 reports a loss in 143 towns. 
It will be seen that the number of towns losing population varies 
at each census, but undoubtedly the same towns are reported as de- 
creasing in numbers each decade. It should be stated that, in about 
one quarter of those towns, the loss was occasioned by a division of 
the town or annexing a part of it to some other place. It should also 
be stated that the removals from the country districts to villages and 
cities do not account for all these losses of population ; emigration to 
the West, and to other distant places, does a part of the work, and so 
also does death. 
There is another item in the account : the birth-rate has so much 
declined in rural districts, that scarcely any addition, if any, comes 
from natural increase. But, as the death-rate in many places exceeded 
the birth-rate, the thinning out of the people is not confined to Massa- 
chusetts. 
In Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont, the hill towns and many 
of the agricultural districts are losing more or less population-not 
alone by death or emigration of young people, but by the removal of 
whole families to more populous places. In Rhode Island and Con- 
necticut there is not the same extent of territory, and population is 
more equally distributed ; but still the census of Connecticut reports 
a decrease of population in some sixty towns in the western part of 
the State. Statistics show that this removal of people from the coun- 
try to the city has been increasing every year ; and when it will cease, 
or what is to be the result, time only can tell. 
Agriculture as related to other Pursuits.-Connected with 
this decrease of population in country districts, there is one very impor- 
tant consideration, that it involves a change of occupation. Farming is 
given up for work in the store, the shop, and the mill. Within half 
a century the business of New England has passed through great 
changes. 
By the censuses of 1860, 1870, and 1880, we find, instead of an in- 
creased number engaged in agriculture -with the increase of popula- 
tion, that the number has been actually diminishing. The census 
divides all kinds of business or occupation into four classes : 1. Agri- 
culture ; 2. Professional and personal service ; 3. Trades and trans- 
portation ; and, 4. Manufactures and mechanics. An examination of 
the tables representing these four classes in the reports of 1870 and 
1880 shows that the last three classes have increased relatively far 
more than the first class. 
The number engaged in agriculture has fallen off in every State. 
Vermont and Massachusetts stand in respect to agriculture at extreme 
points ; the former has more people engaged in farming than in all 5 
Other pursuits, while the latter has only about one tenth as many em- 
ployed on the farm as are engaged in other pursuits. 
Maine has the largest number of any State engaged in agriculture 
-about one third of her wThole population-and she at the same time 
possesses the greatest amount of territory to cultivate. New Hamp- 
shire has half as many engaged in agriculture as in all other occupa- 
tions ; Connecticut has one fourth, and Rhode Island only one tenth. 
The whole number in New England engaged in agriculture was 301,765, 
and in other pursuits, 1,268,116-more than four times as many. In 
1870 the proportion was one to three. 
A comparison of this table (1880) with that in the census of 1870 
shows a far greater increase in the class of professional persons than 
in that of any other occupation or pursuit. The census of 1870 reports 
only 145,324, while the census of 1880 reports 349,984 persons. This 
increase is found in every State, though in some States greater than in 
others. Whether this great increase of professional persons in ten 
years is an indication of an improved state of society or not, is a ques- 
tion upon which there might be differences of opinion. 
It is well understood that, fifty years ago, farming constituted the 
principal occupation of New England ; but, instead of maintaining 
its position, with a greatly increased population, it has fallen far be- 
hind other pursuits. The great additions made to her people have 
been absorbed in trade, in manufactures, and mechanical business. In 
considering this exchange of agriculture for other pursuits, a question 
of great interest arises : What is to be its effect upon physical organi- 
zation and the permanent prosperity of a people ? 
No fact is more firmly established than that agricultural pursuits 
are the most healthy of all, and that those engaged in them transmit 
physical development in its best estate. All experience proves that an 
exclusive city population tends gradually to degenerate physically, 
and that the stock can not be kept good from generation to gen- 
eration. 
It is well understood that the only conservative power that can 
prevent this degeneracy in cities is that their population shall be con- 
stantly replenished by recruits from the country. But it should be 
borne in mind that the places in the country made vacant by those re- 
movals are soon occupied by a different race of people, and that this 
foreign element is pretty likely to increase more and more in the farm- 
ing districts of New England. 
Supposing this change should generally take place in the country 
districts, how is the purely American stock to improve or be kept 
good ? It can be done only by an intermingling of the races, which 
is even questionable. 
Change in Birth-Rate.-There is no one agency so closely con- 
nected with the vital interests of a people as the matter of the birth- 
rate. In the history of nations this haft always been considered a 6 
question of the utmost importance. To a certain extent it operates as 
a thermometer to show the rise and fall of national prosperity. The 
process of its operations may seem slow, but certain results are sure 
to follow. 
In respect to this agency, a most surprising change has gradually 
been taking place in New England. Near the close of the last cen- 
tury, Malthus, after making a survey of all the nations on the earth, 
selected the United States (virtually New England, which was the 
most populous part) upon which to base his theory of population. 
Seeing that the inhabitants of these States doubled in twenty-five 
years by natural increase, he considered that it afforded most favorable 
indications of prosperity. At that time the birth-rate was high, fami- 
lies were large, and few were found without children. 
From the first settlement at Plymouth in 1620, this prosperous 
state of increase continued without .much change for two hundred 
years, but early in the present century some decline in the birth-rate 
commenced. It is impossible to trace the exact changes which have 
taken place for the last two or three generations. 
In some parts of New England the precincts and towns were accus- 
tomed to keep very correct records of all births, but they were not 
generally printed, so no comparison of them can be made. But for 
thirty years or more several of the New England States have pub- 
lished registration reports of births in their cities and towns, so that 
very correct comparisons can be instituted. Without going into a de- 
tailed sketch by statistics, figures, etc., of the changes in birth-rate, 
we present some general statements on this subject. Forty or fifty 
years ago large families, numbering six, eight, ten, and twelve, were 
quite common ; now they are rare-in fact, a large number of such 
families can not at the present time be found in any one neighborhood 
or even in a single country town. Formerly, in the rural districts of 
New England, there were few families having only one, two, or three 
children, and in case there were none it was so rare as to attract par- 
ticular attention, and was considered by many a great calamity. But 
what a contrast is found in the present state of society 1 In the great 
majority of our American families only one, two, or three children 
are now found, and in very many families not one. And such a state 
of society is approved by the fashions and prevailing sentiment of the 
day ! 
As registration reports generally return the births of the foreign 
population in the same tables with the American, and as the term 
native is applied to all infants whose parents were born in this coun- 
try, though of foreign descent, it will be at once seen how difficult it 
is to obtain the exact birth-rate separate of each class. Two facts are 
pretty well established : 1. That the birth-rate of the foreign class is 
more than twice as large as the strictly American ; and, 2. That, in the 
country districts of New England settled mainly by the Americans, 7 
it is questionable whether the birth-rate exceeds the death-rate-that 
is, there is no addition to the population by natural increase. 
Should this birth-rate continue to decrease as it has for the last 
twenty or thirty years, the effect will become more and more manifest 
than it has in the past. The Board of Health for New Hampshire, 
having charge of the registry of births and deaths in the State, in their 
report just published, state an important fact bearing on this point. 
After carefully analyzing the births and deaths in 1880 to draw the 
line between the foreign and the American, the board make out that 
the deaths among the Americans exceed the births by eight hundred. 
That is, New Hampshire lost population from this source. If this 
same test of birth and death rate as reported in New Hampshire 
should be found to apply to all the other New England States, the 
record would not be very creditable for the past nor encouraging for 
the future. In making comparison between the birth and death rate 
the latter must always be carefully taken into account. If the death- 
rate is unusually large, it affects at once the gain by natural increase. 
In New England the death-rate generally is not high, which is more 
favorable for the rate of increase. The same is true in Great Brit- 
ain, but the birth-rate is much higher there than here. Thus large 
additions are made there to population by natural increase, far more 
than in New England. In France for several years the death-rate 
has been rather high, so that allowance must be made. As a mat- 
ter of fact, the comparison with foreign nations is decidedly unfavor- 
able to the New-Englander. 
According to the latest and most authentic reports,, the birth-rate 
of the New England States is less than that of any large European 
nation except France. And this birth-rate of New England is based 
upon both the foreign and American classes : could the latter be elimi- 
nated from the former, it would make the birth-rate of the strictly 
American even much lower than that of France. 
It is well understood that population is steadily decreasing in cer- 
tain portions of France, and that this decrease is every year extend- 
ing. This decline in numbers is attracting more and more the 
thoughtful attention of the French savants, and the inquiry is made 
for the causes and the remedies. It may be found to resemble cer- 
tain diseases, the causes of which can readily be discovered, but the 
remedies can not easily be applied. 
Foreign Population in New England.-Of all the changes in 
New England, the introduction of the foreign element is the most im- 
portant. The facts respecting the history of this immigration and the 
extent to which it has reached can be obtained, but no human sagacity 
can fully foresee its results. There are, however, certain features in 
these changes which should be carefully studied, and the develop- 
ments or tendencies growing out of them should be better understood. 
More facts-more knowledge-are needed on this subject. What, 8 
then, is the history of this movement ? Fifty years ago, the foreign 
element in New England was very small. In Massachusetts the census 
reports that in 1830 it was only 9,620, and increased as follows : In 
1840 it was 34,818; 1850, 164,448; 1860, 260,114; 1870, 357,319; 
and 1880, 443,402. 
It should be borne in mind that these figures represent only the 
"foreign-born," and not their children or descendants, which would 
greatly increase the number. In the other New England States the 
whole foreign element combined is not so large as that in Massachu- 
setts, and has not increased so fast. In Maine, in 1850, it numbered 
31,450, and in 1880 it was 58,883 ; in New Hampshire in 1850, 13,571, 
and in 1880, 46,294 ; in Vermont, 1850, 32,931, and 1880, 40,959 ; in 
Rhode Island, 1850, 23,111, and in 1880, 73,993 ; and in Connecticut, 
1850, 37,473, and in 1880, 129,992. The whole number of foreign- 
born in New England, reported by the census of 1880, was 793,122, and 
360,649 of these emigrated from Ireland. 
The census reports the whole population of New England, born in 
the United States, as 3,234,317, but large numbers reported here as 
natives are of foreign descent. It is impossible here to draw the line, 
but, from the best evidences before us, we should say there must be 
about half as many in this class as that of the foreign-born, which 
would increase the foreign element to 1,200,000 in New England. It 
may be larger. The " Catholic Directory " six years ago stated that 
there were at that time 890,000 souls in New England connected with 
that church, and the number must have since considerably increased. 
Then, of the 793,122 reported by the census " foreign-born," there must 
be a large number of Protestants-being over 100,000 emigrants from 
England and Scotland. The same organ also six years ago stated that 
" nearly 25 per cent of the population of New England is composed of 
Roman Catholics." The census reports the wThole population of New 
England as 4,027,439 in 1880. At the present time (1883) the foreign 
element must number over 1,200,000 persons in New England. 
But it is quite unequally distributed. In Massachusetts, Connecti- 
cut, and Rhode Island, it numbers more than a third of the population ; 
but in Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont, it is not one quarter. 
As the birth-rate of this class is more than twice as large as the Amer- 
ican, the foreign element will constantly gain in numbers upon the 
American. 
Connected with this large addition to our population composed 
of a different people in race, type, and character, there are several 
points that deserve careful consideration. A few years ago it was 
thought that emigration from Ireland would very much diminish, if 
not cease, but of late it has taken a new start, and may again flour- 
ish. Emigration from England and Scotland is sure to continue ; so 
also from the British Provinces and Canada. But this foreign element 
is destined to increase hereafter more by births than by immigration. 9 
The marriage-rate is much higher in this class than with the American. 
It is possible that, in the process of time, changes in the style of living, 
and by adopting modern fashions, the birth-rate of this class may be 
somewhat reduced, but certainly not at present. 
Religious influences have a powerful hold upon this class of people, 
so that they will be restrained from violating the laws of the physical 
system. In process of time, there may be such a change in the organ- 
ization of this people as to reduce the birth-rate. The "Catholic 
World " stated six years ago that " nearly 70 per cent of the births in 
New England were those in Catholic families." This estimate we 
thought at the time was too large, but with the increase of births 
since belonging to this class, and the addition of the births of large 
numbers of the foreign-born and foreign descent who are not Catho- 
lic, it will increase this percentage. 
In most of the cities more than half of the births for years have 
been connected with the foreign element, but it was not expected that 
the same proportion could be found to exist in rural districts and 
country towns. 
It does not seem possible that three fourths of all the births in New 
England at the present time can be classed under a foreign head, but 
the indications are pretty certain that such will be the case before 
many years, and then we shall be compelled to believe the fact. The 
inquiry is frequently made if the two classes do not intermarry, and 
what is the prospect in this direction ? There are occasional inter- 
marriages between the American, the English, the Scotch, and the emi- 
grants from the Provinces, but not often between the Americans and 
the Irish. Still, cases of this kind do occur occasionally between the 
laboring classes, and we think they are increasing. The registration 
reports divide certain married parties into two classes-the foreign- 
born father and native mother, and vice versa. 
The term native here might apply to the strictly American, but a 
careful examination shows that each party called native was of foreign 
element, so that there was no mixing of the two races. This class of 
marriages has been constantly increasing. In Massachusetts, accord- 
ing to the registration report of 1881, there were 7,386 births of this 
class, nearly one eighth of the whole number. 
Change in Physical Organization.-The most serious evil re- 
sulting from the introduction of this foreign element is in causing a 
change in the physical organization of New-Englanders. In the case 
of men-that part of farming requiring hard work-those kinds of 
the mechanical pursuits demanding physical strength, and, in fact, 
nearly all manual labor out-of-doors, have already passed mainly into 
the hands of foreign help. This change, commencing thirty or forty 
years ago, has everywhere been taking place, but more rapidly of late 
years. 
This exchange of regular physical exercise for lighter employment 10 
and in-door work is calculated to develop nerve-tissue rather than 
the muscles, to impair the power of digestion, and reduce the vital 
forces of the system. That a course of physical degeneracy to some 
extent has thus been going on with New England men must now, upon 
thorough examination, be generally admitted. 
But a change more marked and serious in its character has been 
taking place in female organization. Formerly all kinds of house- 
work and domestic duties were performed by New England women. 
Before foreign help could be obtained, our young women were gen- 
erally employed as domestics in families. It was customary for the 
more wealthy and many families of the middling class, where there 
were no daughters, to employ one or more domestics. 
In many families all the house-work was done by the daughters 
and mother, without any imported help. It was considered becoming 
and praiseworthy for all females, of whatever age or family connec- 
tions, to engage on hire in domestic service. 
All such employment was then considered respectable. Skill, fidel- 
ity, and success in domestic duties, wrere the best recommendations 
that any young woman could possess. Practice and public sentiment 
in these respects have entirely changed. Very few Yankee girls can 
now be persuaded at any price to engage in domestic labor. Such 
service is generally considered by them menial, and every kind of em- 
ployment or business away from the kitchen and domestic hearth is 
preferred. In families where there are daughters, the hardest portion 
of the house-work is now performed by the mother or hired help. 
What are some of the effects of this change in domestic life ? No 
kind of exercise in the world is so well calculated to develop all parts 
of the body in the female, and promote good health, as house-work. 
No study or employment whatever can fit the young girl so well for 
housekeeping as practical training in such duties. 
In this way home and the family are pretty sure to secure a strong 
attachment. By these means all parts of the body are harmoniously 
developed ; a sound constitution, good health, and long life, are se- 
cured. Instead of educating the girl in accordance with the laws of 
her physical system, and training her for the great practical duties of 
the family, from the age of ten to eighteen she is kept at school 
nearly all the time, so that the brain and nerves are developed at the 
expense of other organs. This partial and one-sided development of 
the body is increased and intensified in the female, by being thrown 
out of her natural sphere in domestic labor and family relation. 
Hence great multitudes of young women from fifteen to twenty-five 
have nothing to do, are everywhere seeking employment, and are con- 
stantly exposed to an excited or morbid state of feeling. 
The ill-health of New England women is proverbial. It is less 
than half a century since it attracted public attention. A careful ex- 
amination will show' that its history and extent run almost parallel 11 
with the high pressure in education and the neglect of house-work. 
The nerves and the hrain have been cultivated at the expense of the 
muscles and physical stamina. 
In this artificial state of society wants multiply and fashion has a 
powerful influence. A high and extravagant standard of living is set 
up, and young people are unwilling to commence life as their fathers or 
grandfathers did before them. For twenty or thirty years there has 
been a steady decline in the marriage-rate. There are powerful influ- 
ences, starting partly from internal sources and partly from external 
agencies, which threaten the permanency and best interests of the 
family. If the laws of the human system can be so changed or vio- 
lated as to defeat its primary objects, this institution must suffer and 
decay. There is a normal and healthy organization of the body as 
well as of the brain, which favors married life and the family relations. 
On the other hand, there is such a thing as an abnormal develop- 
ment of the body and a morbid condition of the nervous system, which 
is decidedly unfavorable to the domestic relations ; especially is this 
the case with females. 
The law of maternity is already violated to such an extent that it 
is questionable whether half our New England women can properly 
nurse their offspring. There is a general law in nature that " supply 
and demand'1'1 go together and are co-equal, and if one fails the other 
is endangered. There are also decided evidences that the maternal 
instinct, " love of offspring," one of the strongest and holiest instincts 
of our nature, is fading away. 
It should be borne in mind that when the harmony or balance of 
organization in the body is materially changed-that is, certain parts 
obtain an extreme development, while the functions of others become 
very much weakened-a similar change and derangement of action 
apply to the brain. The fact is well established that certain portions 
of the brain perform distinct and separate functions. Let that portion 
of the brain whose functions pertain to the family relation, and to do- 
mestic life, fail in proper development and healthy action, and supreme 
attention be given to the culture of the intellect and moral sentiment, 
and, in process of time, its effects on character will become very mani- 
fest. If this change in mental development applied only to an individ- 
ual here and there, its effects on society w'ould not be so marked or 
injurious ; but, when the great majority of persons are affected by it, 
the results become far more extensive and serious in their character. 
Again : the family constitutes the foundation or groundwork of 
all society, and, when properly established, is the most powerful agency 
in the world for human improvement. This institution must have its 
bases and supplies in the social and domestic affections, guided by the 
intellect and controlled by the moral sentiments. Without such a 
foundation it can not be made permanent, happy, and prosperous. 
The intellectual faculties will never alone cement and perpetuate this 12 
institution. Some singular developments on this subject have recently 
been brought to public notice-that is, in matters connected with the 
subject of divorce. 
Among no other civilized people is there such a breaking up of the 
family. Why should it occur here, among a people so highly educated 
and moral ? Some attribute it to changes in legislation, but the pri- 
mary causes of the evil existed before, and will continue, in spite of any 
changes in legislation. Its outward developments may by this means 
be checked, but the evil is not cured. The primary causes of these 
anomalous developments have, we believe, a broad and deep foun- 
dation in physical organization. We do not see how all the facts con- 
nected with this alarming evil can be accounted for in any other way. 
There is one consideration connected with this whole subject, of 
vast importance, which can here only be mentioned-that is, heredity. 
The changes in organization are directly and most intimately connect- 
ed with hereditary influences. The effects of such changes through the 
laws of inheritance are so great and far-reaching that they can not be 
described or measured. Judging from a physiological stand-point, the 
introduction of this foreign element into New England, instead of 
proving a blessing, may result in one of the greatest misfortunes that 
ever befell any race or people. EXPLANATION AND DEFENCE 
OF THE 
PRECEDING PAPER. 
\ I T HEN the preceding paper first appeared in the August 
V V number of the Popular Science Monthly, it elicited some 
comments and criticisms from different journals. It is intended 
here to notice briefly two or three objections brought against 
certain statements made in this paper. In discussing the increase 
of the foreign population, the writer is charged with not making 
allowance for the increased mortality of this class. The same charge 
has been brought before, and reference has been made to .Dr. Edward 
Jarvis, as "eminent authority in such matters," but whose opinions, 
it was stated, differed materially from the writer. What, then, are 
the facts? From some tables in the Registration Report of Boston 
for 1861-2, it appeared that the increased death-rate of the Irish 
over that of the American was nearly equal to their increased birth- 
rate over the latter. This statement was at once seized upon by 
many persons, and the impression became quite general that there 
could not be much increase, if any, of foreign children over the Ameri- 
can. But how happens it, then, that for twenty years the children of 
the foreign class have increased so much faster than the American, 
when the former composed a far less number of families? So 
great has been this increase that a majority of the pupils in the 
public schools of many cities is composed at the present time of this 
class. 
The following quotation gives Dr. Jarvis' testimony more exact 
and complete, we believe, than can be found anywhere else in his 
writings. Iq the Report of the Massachusetts Board of Health for 
1873, page 215, Dr. Jarvis says: "In Boston, during ten years, 
1862 to 1871, there were born 20,867 children of American, and 
42,852 of foreign fathers. In the same time the deaths were 3438 
under one year and 5428 under five years of the first class, and 7719 
under one year and 13,943 under five years of the second class. Of 
those that were born in American families, 16.47 per cent, died 
under one year and 26 per cent, under five years. Of those born in 
foreign families 18.13 per cent, died under one year and 32.79 per 
cent, under five years. The mortality of the foreigners' children 
was then 10 per cent, greater under one year and 26 per cent, 
greater under five years than that of children of natives." 14 
These are Dr. Jarvis' figures and statements as deduced from 
the official Reports of Boston. Instead of contradicting or clashing 
in the least with any statements we have ever made, they confirm 
their correctness. The census makes the whole population of Boston 
in 1865 as 208,212, of which it reports 68,966 as foreign-born. By 
referring to the above figures it will be seen that there were twice 
as many children born, in the foreign class as in tfie American, with 
a little more than one-third of the population. 
By comparing the birth-rates and death-rates of the two classes 
as reported above, it will be seen that a large margin is left, exclusive 
of the deaths, for the increase of the foreign over the American. It 
should be stated that the mortality in Boston between 1860 and 
1870 was very large, especially among the Irish, living, as many of 
them did, in very unhealthy quarters. Since that time they have 
scattered more into the suburbs of the city, and with better sewer- 
age and supply of water too, their death-rate has decreased. Some 
time since, we made a careful comparison of the death-rate of the 
two classes in Lowell, and we found that the foreign exceeded the 
American by about one-third. The distinction in the birth-rate and 
death-rate between the two classes has been more carefully noted 
for twenty-five years in the Registration Reports of Providence 
than in any other city. There, the death-rate has been tested in 
three different ways: 1st, by a general rate of mortality according 
to population ; 2d, by the average age of death of each class; and 3d, 
the age at death caused by different diseases. The want of space will 
not allow us here to make quotations or resort to figures, but the 
following summary statement can, we believe, be abundantly verified 
in these Reports, viz.: The birth-rate of the foreign class has been 
more than twice as large as the American, while the death-rate of 
the former has exceeded the latter from one-fifth to one-third. 
In rural districts and country towns settled by both classes, the 
difference in the death-rate is not so great as in the cities. An 
examination of the Registration Reports of the State of Vermont 
shows this fact clearly. Let the foreign class have the same means, 
the same intelligence and the same care as the American, or, in 
other words, as favorable conditions, and their mortality might not 
be much larger. 
Dr. J. Curtis has also been referred to, as presenting some 
statistics or views in his "Report upon the Sanitary Condition of 
Boston in 1855," which do not agree with those of the writer. 
But from a careful examination of this Report no such evidence can 
be found. On the other hand, the figures and comments presented 
in tnis Report upon the comparative birth-rate and death-rate of the 
two classes, go to corroborate the correctness of those in this paper. 
In the changes of population noticed in the preceding pages, 15 
one inquiry was the effect they might have upon physical organiza- 
tion. While there might be great improvements in society, in 
general intelligence, in education, in the comforts of life, etc., etc., 
the question was raised whether there were not certain physiological 
changes taking place which might prove unfavorable to the perma- 
nent prosperity of a people. In considering physical change or 
degeneracy, the question depends upon the standard set before us. 
In the present instance, it is the physical organization of our 
ancestors, or the early settlers of New England. This degeneracy 
consists in loss of muscular power, in a lack of physical stamina, in 
the predominance of nerve tissue, and an undue development of brain 
at the expense of other parts of the body. The effects of these 
changes are not visible at once, neither do they apply alike to all 
individuals. In producing such changes, the laws of heredity have 
a powerful influence. No one but a well informed physiologist can 
fully appreciate the effect of such changes on life and character or 
judge correctly of their tendencies. 
There is a higher, or rather a normal standard of physiology, by 
which all changes in physical organization can be tested, whether it 
is improving or degenerating. This is based upon the perfect 
structure of every organ, and the legitimate performance of all their 
functions in a normal, healthy manner. The nearer human organ- 
ization approaches this standard, the greater is its power or ability 
to secure the highest objects of life. The great excellency of this 
standard is its balance of power between the body and mind, its 
harmony of functions as developed by all the organs of the body as 
well as every part of the brain. 
Now an extreme development of any class of organs from this 
standard, while other organs become defective in structure and 
weakened in function, constitutes a species of degeneracy. It is in 
this direction where certain evils, we apprehend, threaten the 
highest interest and permanent welfare of the New England people, 
and this refers more especially to the female portion. We can 
here merely allude to the subject, as it would require volumes to 
elucidate and apply it in all its bearings. 
All experience proves that the exposures of existing evils, with 
reference to making some reform or improvement in the present 
state of society, are sure to encounter more or less opposition. If 
this discussion reflects at all upon the fashions of the day, or upon 
the habits and practices of any considerable number of people, or 
conflicts with preconceived opinions, the opposition is frequently 
bitter in its spirit, and both the writer and his views are publicly 
denounced. If the facts and arguments presented should happen to 
have in their outlook a result that crosses the pride or conflicts with 
the cherished notions of certain individuals, yielding to their first 16 
impulses, they call the writer hard names, as being an "alarmist" 
or "false prophet," and insist that his statements are all "guess- 
work " or "assumption." 
It is almost twenty years since the writer first published some 
statistics showing how much larger was the birth-rate of the foreign- 
born over the American, indicating how rapidly this class were 
increasing. Some of the leading journals in Boston at once pro- 
nounced these statistics false, and that the writer was wild and 
visionary in his statements. But it was not long before these same 
journals discovered some truth in those figures and statements, and 
they have more recently found that this foreign clement has 
increased to such an extent that its power is felt in changes taking 
place in the municipal government which are not altogether pleasant 
to some Bostonians. Twenty or thirty years may teach certain 
critics of the preceding pages that the figures and suggestions here 
presented possess more truth than they care now to recognize. The 
development of great principles is the work of time. It is always 
pleasant for a writer to select popular themes for consideration and 
to discuss them in a manner that would be pleasing to the public 
generally. In this way he is sure to be greeted with applause and 
in time to find that his own interest has been best subserved. But 
may not conscience and a sense of duty constrain one sometimes to 
treat a subject which is not popular, but in which the highest wel- 
fare of a people is involved and perhaps imperilled? Shall he 
shrink from such discussion? 
The last section in the preceding paper, viz.: " change in 
physical organization," involves a great principle which lies at the 
foundation of human society, whether applied to the individual, or 
to the family, or to the race. The more the science of physiology is 
studied in its relations to social life, to mental development and 
religious interests, the more important it will appear that its laws 
should be better and more thoroughly understood. If the principle 
enunciated above in the effects of "change of organization," imply- 
ing that there is a great general law of propagation, is true, 
it will be found in value and influence not inferior to the law of 
gravitation or electricity. Every new principle having its founda- 
tion in nature, and involving the highest interests of humanity, 
when fairly stated, can never die, but will be found to flourish more 
and more. Whatever criticism may be passed upon the work or 
character of the writer, such is his faith in the progress of these 
principles that he can afford to wait for the verdict of time. He is 
satisfied that history will do him full justice. 
NATHAN ALLEN. 
Lowell, Nov. 1, 1883.