Every woman must have as many children as nature allowed, and when she could bear no more must give way to a new wife and a step-mother to carry on the family life; and if there were more children in a family than the father and family friends could support, they had to be cared for by the community.

The modern condition is the same in the case of those below a certain grade of intelligence and self-control.

But as human beings become more rational in other respects, they apply reason, common sense, and prudence to the great function of parenthood.
Indeed, so much is this the case that the social danger of breeding only from below the higher levels is felt to be an increasing one.
There are not wanting those who believe that rationalism in parenthood is wrong and should be prevented, if possible, but those are the people who decry the use of reason in all other matters, except it may be in the strictly economic field.

The fact is that whatever may be said on the side of ancient religious sanction and inherited sentiment, the tendency on all sides is irresistibly toward the personal choice in parenthood as in marriage.
=Some People Have a Right to Marry and Remain Childless.=--There are many, however, who believe that no one should marry unless wishing and expecting to have children.

That is a belief which will doubtless be more and more outgrown.