Another Sheaf by John Galsworthy — Read

The mere male novelist who takes pen to write on infants awaits the polished comment: "He knows nothing of the subject -- rubbish; pure rubbish! " One must run that risk.

In the report of the National Baby Week it is written: -- "Is it worth while to destroy our best manhood now unless we can ensure that there will be happy, healthy citizens to carry on the Empire in the future? " I confess to approaching this subject from the point of view of the infant citizen rather than of the Empire. And I have wondered sometimes if it is worth while to save the babies, seeing the conditions they often have to face as grown men and women. But that, after all, would be to throw up the sponge, which is not the part of a Briton. It is written also: -- "After the war a very large increase in the birth-rate may be looked for. " For a year or two, perhaps; but the real after-effect of the war will be to decrease the birth-rate in every European country, or I am much mistaken. "No food for cannon, and no extra burdens," will be the cry. And little wonder! This, however, does not affect the question of children actually born or on their way. If not quantity, we can at all events have quality.