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of those who have solved it.-Catherine Harbaugh, Cascade, Colo.

I fear that this question, in its many phases, will prove almost too hard for The Homemaker to handle satisfactorily; but we shall all be glad to know of the little economies practiced by those who find it necessary to make one dollar do the work of two. Personally I believe the true solution of the problem can only come through a change in the industrial system. Of one thing we may be assured -behind all the threatening social and economic upheavals of the day, shadowed forth by the deep unrest of the multitude, is working that Almighty Power that makes for good. Let us trust it, as we have always done, and, with Tennyson,

"Be grateful for the sounding watchword, Evolution, here."-Ed. American Woman.

Also these plain words on this subject:

The aversion of woman to child bearing is one of the bitter evils of the day-and its effect on the coming race will be of serious moment. The causes of this aversion are many and hard to overcome even by reason and educational forces. It is very true that the economic conditions which make the environment of many women are responsible for the dread of bringing children into the world, both directly and indirectly. Directly, by reason of the fact that the mother must go into the factory and shop to supplement the fast decreasing wage of the father. In the great mill districts of New England, mothers work at their

looms through the whole period of pregnancy, in many instances up to the very day of confinement. Not much wonder that these women dread the coming of children. It is not hard to imagine the future of these little ones poorly nourished, scantily clad, deprived of a mother's care-all this enters into the great economic problem of today.-Ella Reeve Cohen, in Woman's Physical Development.

None can deny that judicious marriage promotes chastity. And anything that checks marriage increases the social evil. Then women and girls working promote the social evil by preventing marriage. Yet who would blame women? She, the unhappy cause to a certain extent, is the worst sufferer in the end. The following facts are taken from a medical journal:

An eminent Frenchman made an investigation of the subject and records the fact that vanity and a desire for fine raiment prompted many women to become prostitutes. Quite a number, also, took to the vice in order to escape hard work in the factories and the work-shops.

As long as this social system exists, prostitution will exist. As long as commercialism is a factor of our civiliza. tion, prostitution will prevail.

When young men can marry on a small income, and our standards are raised to a higher point, prostitution will de

crease.

Judicious marriages promote chastity, and are encouraged by every moralist.

There are in New York City some 50,000 such women; their average life after falling is four years; $50,000,000 a year is expended in the traffic.-Medical Brief, June.

But the limit has been reached; the end is at hand. The present social system is tottering, and ere long will collapse. Women at work. Men displaced. Marriage prevented. The social evil augmented. Woman the principal victim and sufferer.

This quota will be added to the general upheaval. Alone it is of vast impportance, but its gravity is increased when taken in connection with the other ills that have siezed the social body. And the social body, already sick unto death with many diseases, is ready to succumb when this additional affliction is added. But this is not all.

CHAPTER XIV.

THE FIERCE STRUGGLE.

How Men Are Forced to Wage Relentless War On Each Other, In Order to Hold Their Own.-The Horrible Cruelty and Debasing Effects of the Situation.

Strange to say, that with the increase of civilization, population, and improvements, has also come a desperate battle for a foothold in life. A strenuous effort that wears out body and soul, and is kept up daily, weekly, yearly, until the victim, tired, worn, spent, and old before his time, is forced out of the conflict.

With the shriek of the whistle, the great throng in mad haste, fly to their work. Then all through the long day, a killing pace, and such an intensity of application is kept up that one might believe the day of judgment were coming, and but one day remained to get ready for it. Even the banker and speculator is not exempt. All rush like mad. At noon scarcely any rest is taken. Indeed, many scarcely take time to snatch a morsel of food.

The Appeal to Reason says:

"Mr. Rockefeller's mad race to own the world has resulted in ruining his stomach, causing his hair to fall out of his head, his eye-brows and moustache to disappear; it has succeeded in making thousands of his competitors go into bankruptcy, and in causing the people generally to think of him as a fiend. If he had lived under a sane industrial system, Mr. Rockefeller might have been as universally liked, as he is well liked by those of his friends. It is the system of profit that has caused all his trouble. It is driving thousands to the grave of suicide, and the poor house, as the days go by. It is the most damnable thing-this thing called profit—that was ever conceived in the mind of savage man. And the people are beginning to see the depths of degradation to which profit has sunk the souls of men."

And why this mad race? What is the great stake?

It is simply the uncertainty of one's position. None feel secure. The rich banker, speculator, financier, all fear they may lose their foothold any minute. The next market report may bring news of financial ruin. Even many merchants and manufacturers struggle under a great load. For, doing business at a loss, the morrow is always an uncertainty, for fear they will be unable to meet obligations. Thus are many haunted by the nightmares of disaster. Then when reverses come, how often is relief sought by poison or the pistol. To pick up a paper and

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