that the many millions of kroner saved annually in households by
the reduced consumption of intoxicating liquors, have contributed
greatly to raise the economic well-being of the people. Crime has
also decreased. The number of deaths whose cause was assigned
to drink during the years 1856—60 was 33 per 10,000, but since
then it has decreased steadily, and for the years 1891—94 was
only 10.5. The number of lunatics to®, and suicides as a result of
drink has been continually decreasing with the increasing sobriety.
This wise legislation and heavy taxation, whose purpose has
rather been to raise the price of intoxicating liquors and] thus
restrict their use, than to serve fiscal purposes, have been strongly
supported by a voluntary abstinence movement, which has been
especially active among the lower classes. I t has been said with
reason that the Norwegian people have educated themselves to
abstinence. The «Norwegian Total' Abstinence Society» (Det
norske Totalafholdsselskab), founded in 1859, now numbers 1020
associations with 129,259 members. Norway’s Grand Lodge of the
I. O. G. T. has 352 lodges, with 17,735 members, besides about
8000 children. The Norwegian Good Templars’ Grand Lodge has
about 4200 members, the Norwegian Women’s Total Abstinence
Society (Norske Kvinders Total-Afholdsselskab) 2163 members, and
the Blue Ribbon about 2500.
MORALITY.
Yery little can be inferred as to the moral conditions of the
country from the number of illegitimate births. During the last
few years, they have amounted on an average to 7 per cent of
the total number of births. A law of the 6ih July, 1892 compels
the father of the child to contribute a certain sum of money
fixed by the chief magistrate, towards the expenses of the mother’s
delivery and proper nursing during confinement. He also has to
contribute, according to the decision of the chief magistrate, towards
the maintenance and education of the child up to its 15th year,
or in certain circumstances, even longer. This law also contains
other provisions intended to insure proper nursing to the child,
and also relating to legal rules for clearing up the paternity.
In the large towns, above all Kristiania, there are prostitute
women who make a living by unchastity. According to the penal
law of 1842, still in force, it is a punishable offence to offer one’s
body for sale for unchastity; but practically this prohibition has
been regarded as unwritten, and is now understood to be repealed
in the draught of a new penal law initiated by the government.
In several towns the police have instituted regulation’ and visitation
duty for the registered prostitutes, in order to prevent the spread
of infectious sexual diseases. In Kristiania, however, the police
have not allowed brothels since 1880, and since 1884 have forbidden
those who had lodgings for prostitute women to keep a
public house. • In 1887 the Justice Department commanded the
abolition of visitation. There has thus been no regulation prostitution
since that time. I t is now the Board of Health who,
in case .of- the carrying of infection, may order the infected
person to go into a hospital. There is, however, among doctors'a
feeling . for the re-introduction of regulation prostitution, while
others, especially moral associations,- are opposed to it. There- is
much difference of opinion as to whether syphilis has increased
or not since the cessation of compulsory visitation.
There is a morality association for the promotion of morality,
■with several branches, and .connected with associations of a similar
nature at home and abroad.
CRIMINAL CONDITIONS.
• About 3000 persons are sentenced on an average every year
in Norway, for transgression of the ordinary penal laws of the
country. Bor the years 1891—-1895, the average number per
annum was 3045, 2565 of these being men, and 480 women. In
spite of the growth of the population, the actual number of criminals
during the last 30 years rather shows a decrease than an
increase, and the relative number has therefore diminished- considerably
during that period. During the five years 1871—1875,
1-79 per 100.000 inhabitants (from 1851—1855, as many as 195).
were sentenced, while the corresponding ratio in the years 1881-S
1885 was 165, and from 1891 to 1895,. 151. This diminution of
crime, which is moreover more marked among women than among
men, may be to some extent regarded as a consequence of the
improved education, and may also be ascribed to the changes that
have been made in the course of the last few decades —- especially
by the act of the 3rd June, 1874’ — with the- object of