FAMILIES OF THREE.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1869, 1 October 1913, Page 8

FAMILIES OF THREE.

MOST POPULAR SIZE IJ? ENGLAND. Families of three persons aro more numerous than any other in England and Wales. This is one of tho outstanding facts shown in Vol. VIII of tho 1911 census, which deals with the sizo of families and how they are housed. Of every 100,000 of tho 7,943,137 families in tlio country 19,282, or 19 pef cent, of tho total, consist of three persons. Other sized families figure in tho following ratio: — Per cent. 4 persons 18 2 persons 16 5 persons 14 6 persons V 10 No fewer than 78 per oont of tho total families consist of from two to six persons. • Though families of three are tho mora numerous, families of four persons contain the highest proportion of the population. Of tho 34,606,173 persons who make up tho aggregate, family population, 5,758,076 (or 16.64 per cent.) aro in tho four-family group. Tho family of three occupies third plnco (13.3 per cent.), with a total representation of 4.594,23 G. Persons living alone number 423,182; families of two account for >2,567,164 of tlio population; and 4053 families of 15 and upwards make up a record of 66,981 persons. Of tho persons who livo alono, 61.9 per cent, aro ftyiialos and 38.1 per cent, males.' In tho County of Loudon tho single-person family accounts for 9.3 per ceut. of tho whole family population, and tho women living alono outnumber lonelv men to the extent of 58,594 to 37,130.

For the first time on record figures aro available showing tho number of children under the ago of ton in each family. There were nine cases in London in which tho "family" consisted entirely of children under ten years. The explanation is that in six cases one child was left alone in tho tenement on census night, in two cases two children wero left, and in one case four children. Ono census schedulo boro tho pathetic note, "Father and mother in prison." • "Another was inscribed, "Mother in infirmary."

Children represent 20.7 per cent of tho population. The proportion of children is highest in tenements of two rooms; they form 38.2 per cent, of the population of tenements containing more than two occupants per room. Two hundred and fifty-four thousand seven hundred and ten families, totalling 482,722 persons, live in one-room tenements ; and while 2639 persons live alone in ten-room dwellings, 36 persons sharo ono room with 11 other occupants. The commonest size of tenements consists of four rooms; 75 per cent .of tho-popu-lation livo in tenements of from three to six rooms. In each sized tenoment there aro less than five rooms there nro on tho average, a smaller number of persons than in 1891 or 1901, indicative. says tho report, of a general rise in tho standard of comfort.

Among modern nations the greatest eaters are the British, German, Fr.ench, nnd Americans—tho ruling people of civilisation. The diet of the Spaniards- and tho Italians is notably less substantial than that of tho British aud Germans, while the Americans are, on tho average, tho greatest eaters in tho world.

Camden, New Jersey, was tho scene of a unique collision. A .vessel, carrying a cargo of hny, was being navigated up the Delaware River, and proceeded to a creek to discharge. A high deck load obstructed the look-out, and a passing locomotive carried away both bowsprit and jib-boom and the vessel rapidly filled and sank.

A Swiss editor lias had a legacy, of 100 francs a year left him under peculiar circumstances. Tho money is to'be paid in two equal half-yearly instalments, subject to tho proviso that he drinks a glass of beer in honour of the testator on each occasion. Ho had never heard of tho deceased prior to tho publication of his will.

A Wcsleyan Methodist missionary in India wrote homo to a girl ho waß in lovo with asking het to comb out and marry him. Tho girl's aunt had the same name. She got tho letter and wont out. Tho missionary met her on the quay, and such wns his delicacy of mind that he married her. When slio died, years afterwards, lie married tho niece.

Last year was a record one in the annals of' Japanese trade, tho total figures for 1912 being 20 i>er cent, higher tlmn those for the previous year. Tho total import and export trade of Japan proper amounted in 1012 to no less than .£llO,981,858, as compared witli .C 05,120,510 in 1911. Imports amounted to .£03,188,795, and exports to Tho foreign 'trade of Greater Japan—that is, Japan plus Formosa arid Corea—during the samo period was During 15 days 150 wasp nests were, destroyed within a radius of ono mile on tho Dalliam Hall Estate, Newmarket, England,