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A fifth had "too many children already." The son whose existence she was barely dissuaded from abolishing remains, the sole survivor of eight brothers and sisters, able and happy in supporting his aged and indigent parents throughout the last years of their afflicted life.
Numberless similar instances are within our knowledge and we could add some dozens to the list. Not all nor any of the numerous essays and monographs, remonstrances and addresses recently put forth on the subject, convey anything like an adequate idea of the enormous prevalence of child-murder. Let the reader ask any man of learning — he will verify our words.
It is not a pleasant thought that the very audience before whom a preacher fulminates against the "great crime of the twentieth century," is so far sprinkled with the criminals that he feels the powerlessness of his words. It is not a pleasant thought that the authors of the numerous treatises referred to, know that a mighty influence prevails in the culpable sentiment of the community, which shall neutralize their labors. It is not a pleasant thought that the recognized motive for postponing to another year the consideration of certain resolutions presented in the recent "Old School Presbyterian Assembly," was the fact that many of the rich and powerful of that society would be hurt.1
These thoughts are not pleasant—they are horrible! Yet such is the actual state of morality in our land. The startling truth is that in what is termed "good society," both in the city and country, it is the exception rather than the rule to find, among either ladies or gentlemen, correct "Scriptural" ideas on this subject.
A very able physician in writing on this subject says: "What physician cannot recall cases in which the most
