Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The Sunday Oregonian. (Portland, Ore.) 1881-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 3, 1916)
THE SUNDAY OREGONIAN, PORTLAND, SEPTEMBER 3, 191G. M . -- 'I JSM." 5f sA... K-Vt- H 0 ill BT CHARLOTTE PEHKIXS GILMAN. men that they may he fit for nobler WHAT Indeed? fatherhood. Here is a queation as big as 11 lncludes th suffrage movement the better half of the world as ono of It3 manifestations, and Is and as email as the tighest little hard- cIear,y expressed. In the enormous ... . . growth of woman's clubs and societies, boiled prejudice of the meanest mum- feaerated lnta world organizations, mined relic of an ancestral mind, an Thi3 steady forging ahead of women inherited mind, a mind that never takes has been necessarily observed from the a step of Its own volition, or sits, im- beginning. It was no hole and corner movable, as It was carefully instructed enterprise. Every woman who so arose to Bjt and expanded "made herself eonsplcu- -n ", . , , . , ous" at first. She who was supposed Feminism, really, is the social awak- . tt , . . . , , . . . , to be utterly out of sight.-and out of ening of the women of all the world. mind. unless wanted; she whom the It is that great movement, partly con- Oriental husband" designates as "the scious and more largely unconscious, mean one" or worse; who was ex- which is changing the center of gravity Pected to efface herself always, has In human life. We have had, all these been comlnS' out of her seclusion by ages, a man-made world, a world in 6Ve,7 doo,r and Plng In increasing ., ' . numbers in every department of life, which women were loved as a sex. She haa become BO numerous. so sol valued as mothers and exploited as laly established on thege new groUnda. servants Outside of being loved, being that a woman whohoida the whony valued, being exploited, they had no lfrnorant helpl6S9 and SUbordinate po existence. Talk of "the submerged, sltIon common a century or more i6"!h! '"T ..f ?ee.1t?e submereed ago Is now the conspicuous one. half. "Feminism" is their emergence. A1, tnl ,,, Women are coming out, coming up, coming forward, by millions and mil lions. What is the nature of this move ment? movement for which we have so re cently coined the word "feminism." The Pear of a Word. This being what it is. We should look It Is as manifold as modern life, and ""'Ith scientific interest at the painful as simple as any other process of Picture of It held by those who cry nature. Women are going through. In aloud of Its dangers. What do they a century or so, swiftly, and in large think it is, these timid souls who so measure voluntarily, the same steps of deplore a change, who are so satisfied eoclal progress which men have been with the world as It Was, and its rate struggling through In hundreds thousands of years. Man's Mistakes and Successes. We have to thank men for all their magnificent achievements in this long of of progress? Their first horror is that it la taking woman out of the home, and this seems the Ultimate Evil to many. They are eo immovably convinced that women are "haus-tier" house-beasts domes- period of social evolution; fof all their Hn ... inventions, discoveries, manufactures; la,..0, . , , ., , . " ' . . legitimate human relations outside that xor mi a.m "6,u,., house. Then chased br tnelr own ter. and politics as we find them. rors, they imagine that if women do 'We have to blame men for an uncon- have outelde lnterests and activities ecionable delay in all this; for spend they must therefore unavoidably neg- lng 99-100 of their time In fighting over lect ,hs hom .,. th h.hoA. what they made, invented and discov- the chndren: and ,0. ln hideous ered: and for saddling the growing downward rush, forswear all decency, world with huge unnecessary evils, aU rlght perEonal relations, and plunge uch as war, intemperance and pros- wlth ft miracuiou, double action Into titutlon. preferred celibacy and free love. We have to thank men for all the Those who thus fear Feminism seem loving kindness, the wise helpfulness, equany convinced of both these evils, the Justice and generosity which has It -would appear, judging from what been given to women; and we have to they dread, that women, given free blame men for a long black record of a0m. either hate men, or have the most rank injustice, cruelty and the most unlimited demand for them. If that Is violent and unfair opposition to every so what a pleasant picture it presents step of woman's upward progress. cf -tho home," with the woman corn- Feminism covers each of these steps, pelled to remain in it! It is the movement for education of We are expected to believe that women, for higher education of women, women do not, by nature, love their for professional and industrial educa- homes or their children; that they will tlon of women and for their full eco- cease to do housework as soon as they nomio independence. can do nothing else; and therefore. It covers the physical vigor and free- we can ojily judge that ln all this dom now allowed our girls, their men- worldfull of "happy homes'1 there are tal activity, their larger moral influ- but hopeless women slaves, women ence, the new demand for chastity in who prefer celibacy forced into unwill- fall - - ' v,i' Ya iqg marriage, women who prefer free love forced into submission to one master. The feminists do not say this; the anti-feminists say it, in their frantic fear of freedom for women. They are so pitifully wrong! They have not the faintest knowl edge of what the female sex really is. Listen now: First, the female is the race-type not the male. The male is the sex-type, especially, and then human as far as his masculinity allows. His being a male hinders his being human more than her being a female does. Femininity means, first, last and al ways. Motherhood, and Motherhood, in humanity, means taking care of people teaching, nursing, feeding, training. helping. Fatherhood is complicated by the fighting instinct, a sub-human process. A more feminine world means a bet ter world, cleaner, safer, healthier, better taught. The essential duty of the female as such is to exercise care ful selection in choosing a father for her children. This requires freedom and knowledge. The special distinctions of the male sex are desire, combativeness, and that impulse to self-expression which puts the tail on the peacock, makes the rooster crow, and the nightingale and tom-cat sing. These essential masculine character istics have survived all the cflanges of human life, through all these strug gling ages, and are still visible. Ko Direful Chansea. Learn then, O trembling anti-feminists, who seem to feel that whereas women are a sex and nothing but a sex, yet, give 'em the least chance to be anything else and they at once leave off being women, that the sex distinc tion of women is the Fact in life namely Motherhood. It will not come off. Women will always be mothers, and will become far better mothers than they are now. Women will always love men. They always have, even with the kind of men the past has given them, even the kind of "treatment they have had to bear. With that fact in mind need we doubt that they will love the wiser, cleaner, nobler men who are coming? Women will always love children, not only as well, but better, tar more wisely and potently; the past and pres ent treatment of children ln the world only shows how helpless were their mothers. Aa for housework, it is quite true that women of the 20th century will refuse to be contented with a grade of work parallel to bronze knives and wooden ploughs, but they will learn to fulfill the same needs, better, more economically, in more modern ways. Now as to the pot bugaboo of the anti-feminists Free Love: It is true that some women are licentious, and changeable. They are not a drop in the bucket compared to men so affected, but there are some. It is true, further, that among mil lions of women in the feminist move ment there are some of this kind, and it is in the nature of those morbid and dissatisfied in sex relation to make a great deal of noise. People who are happily mated do not talk, write, or sing about it all the -time. They are just happy, and go on about their busi ness. But with comparative freedom of ac tion possible to women today, and the unlimited freedom of speech, one poor mismated, unmated or overmated woman makes more discussion than a thousand comfortably married or com fortably single ones. What is so weakly contemptible ln those opposed is to pick out this tiny percentage of sex-malcontents, and classify by them the upward march of millions upon millions. There are some such women among the highest classes of "society"; is all "Boclety" branded thereby? There are some such women ln the lowest grades of Industry; is all Industry branded thereby? Feminism, -step by step, makes possi ble closer union, deeper attachment be tween men and women, because it de velops ln the women the broader hu man characteristics; it means comrade ship, friendship, a larger love. It is going to remodel the home, take It off man's shoulders, bring it up abreast with our scientific manage ment, set free four-fifths of its labor, reduce its outrageous cost. Improve its methods. It Is going to lift the race with speed and thoroughness, by a more rigid se lection of men, better born children, and far wiser education for all. And all that is only preliminary. Women, the true human type, with men, will make the world a home we can be proud of. Feminists are women, plus: plus full human endowment and activity. Anti feminists are men who misname their attitude; who want women to be "fe male" and nothing else; or are women minus. What Is "Sleet?" WHAT Is sleet? This is what the United States Weather Bureau is trying to find out. What is the cause of ice deposits on telegraph, telephone and electric transmission wires; a phe nomenon to which the expression "sleet" is now very commonly applied in this country. The bureau states that a search ot dictionaries and of a large amount of technical and non-technical literature reveals the following facts: In England "sleet" means usually, though not invariably, a mixture of raindrops and snowflakes. In the United States the term "sleet" has nearly always been applied by me teorologists to some form of water (other than snow) that is in a frozen state before reaching the ground, viz: either small particles of clear ice (often mingled with rain or snow) or little snowlike pellets, differing from true hailstones, but often called "Winter hail" or "soft hail." (The latter form of precipitation is called graupel in German, and under the influence of German writings, American and Eng lish meteorologists have used this word to some extent. The French equivalent Is gresil.) Nonmeteorologlcal usage in this coun try varies. The uses noted above are more or less common, but there is also another, in accordance with which the term "sleet" is applied to a coating of ice formevl on terrestial objects b rain which freezes after contact with such objects. In England such an Ice coating Is usually called "glazed frost." and this term has been adopted for official pur poses by the British Meteorological of fice. Another name for such a deposit is "silver thaw." This curious expres sion has been known In both Great Britain and America for a very long time. It occurs ln Cartwrighfs Jour nal (1792) with reference to the preva lence of the phenomenon in Labrador. Last, but not least, when the deposit is heavy, and especially when it results in the breaking of branches, wires, etc.. the phenomenon as a whole is very commonly called in this country an "ice storm." The Weather Bureau itself has generally identified sleet with frozen raindrops. So that a horseman's fpt can bo -warmed in cold weatht-r. there has been invented a tirrup -with a reseptable for charcoal or oiher heat-producing substances. oheL each A Hundred Thousand Women Mrs. Frederick Schoff, National Presi dent Congress of Mothers and Parent Teacher Associations, Tells of Work. OF the many women's organizations ln existence the National Con gress of Mothers and Parent Teacher Associations Is one of the most unique, progressive and influential. At its head is Mrs. Frederic Schoff, of Philadelphia, who has literally grown up with it, since she was the first vice president. Today, after being elected and triennlally re-elected its president for 15 years, she leads a membership that goes beyond a hundred thousand women, scattered throughout 36 states, while more than a score of foreign na tions have enrolled under Its standards and are following its precepts. This progressive organization started Its career of usefulness ln 1897, when Mrs. Theodore Blrney, of Washington, being convinced that for the childhood of the Nation to be conserved mothers should be organized, sent out a plea to the mothers of the land to meet in the capital city and form a congress of mothers. A number cf mothers did respond and. under Mrs. Birney and Mrs. Phoe be A. Hearst of New Tork and Cali fornia, formed the nucleus of the pres ent congress. Mrs. Schoff was first vice-president, and in 1902 succeeded Mrs. Blrney in the presidency, which office she haa Blnce retained. . . The officers of the Congress of Moth ers comprise the leading women in the states, and its advisory council and heads of departments include the names of men who are famous the world over. Colonel Theodore Roose velt haa never relaxed his interest nor his co-operation, and he aided Mrs. Schoff most materially in planning and conducting the first International Congress of Child Welfare, held In the White House ln 1905. Some of the other prominent men who serve this body ln an official ca pacity are: Dr. M. V. O'Shea, of the University of Wisconsin; P. P. Clax ton. Rev. Josiah Strong, O. Stanley Hall, Ph. T.; Elmer Ellsworth Brown, William E. Bryan, Ph. D., and Dr. Wil liam P. Wilson. Women of such etrength as Mrs. Ella Flagg Young, Mrs. Kate Waller Barrett and Lady Aberdeen are also working - with the congress. Annual conventions are held. and triennial elections. The next one of the latter will be held ln Washington this coming Spring. This will make the ninth assemblage of this body to be held ln the capital city, including the three great international con gresses of child welfare. Washing ton now has a branch of this body, with 500 members. To get the exact plan of the work of this organization, and also its Ideals and achievements, the writer sought out Mrs. Schoff, to whose untiring efforts and splendid business ability so much of the growth and success of this or ganization is due, and found her ln her spacious Philadelphia home, which Is in reality the working headquarters of this organization, though it main tains a headquarters ln Washington solely for the purpose of mailing out Its literature. In her big, cheery office, which occu pies the room formerly the nursery of the seven Schoff children, who were the real reason for their mother's vital' interest in all matters concerning the welfare of children, Mrs. Schoff was found. "What is the object of this Congress of Mothers and Parent-Teacher Asso ciation? What is it doing and what has it done?" the caller asked. "Now, that question Is going to take a little time to answer," smiled ours. Scholl. "because the aim of the con gress is so comprehensive that it in cludes every problem that affects the welfare of children, and its achieve- , ments have extended over a period of 19 busy years. The work of the con gress is purely civic work fn its-broadest, highest sense, since it is to raise the standards of home life, to develop wiser, . better trained parenthood; to give young people, ignorant of the proper care and training of children, opportunities to learn this, that they may better perform the duties that come with parenthood. "It also alms to bring Into closer re lations the home and the school, so that the parent and the teacher may be able to co-operate Intelligently in the education of the child. It plans to sur round the childhood of the whole world with that loving, wise care in the im pressionable years of life that will de velop good citizens Instead of law breakers and criminals. It alms to carry the mother love and mother thought into all that concerns or touches childhood in the home, School, ehurch and state. "The great effort of the congress la being expended in trying to interest men and women to co-operate in this work for purer, truer homes in the be lief that to accomplish the best work men and women must work together. It is also endeavoring to secure such legislation as will insure that the chil dren of tender years may not be tried in ordinary courts, but that each town shall establish juvenile courts and spe cial officers whose business it is to look, for that care which will rescue Instead of confirm the child ln ways of evil and wickedness. "The congress is also working for the effecting of such probationary care ln homes Instead of ln institutions. It is working untiringly to rouse the whole community to a sense of Its Collective duty and responsibility to the blame less, dependent and neglected children, and there is no philanthropy which will so speedily reduce our taxes and the expenses for prisons, reformatories and houses of correction. "That Is a summing-up of the aim and purposes of this organization, each department of which Is an able -machine with which to work. What ar our departments?" She repeated the question in surprise. "Why, there are quite a few and eaoh one has a most efficient chairman to- ' III --- - -. f . -'if' LI . ' j - M- - f .. i f y f - - - i- - . "- W & . - : j i ' -.-. u - - uc -f , j i '4 .1 : 4 1 ? 1 3 m i --r-- - direct its work: Child hygiene, child labor, education, books for mother, books for children, child welfare cir cles, child welfare legislation, child welfare magazine, country life, home economics, finance. Juvenile court and probation, kindergarten extension, loan papers on child nurture, membership promotion. parents' association ln churches, parent-teacher associatlor s, press and publicity. "Through these splendid departments or divisions we hope to promote unl versially a better knowledge of child nature and childhood needs and a clear er understanding of the Inefficiency and real Injury of some of the measures designed to help children, which will gradually bring about a guidance and a guardianship that will make childhood happy and at the same time prepare these children for their duty as adults." "How do the parent-teacher associa tions figure ln the Congress of Mothers' programme of work?" the caller in quired. "As our organization started out to help every mother and every child and every person standing in the parents! relation to a child, a plan had to be formed whereby they could be reached In groups, as it was not possible to reach them Individually. So the con gress evolved the idea of putting a parent-teacher organization into every school to double the work of the school by educating the parents as well as the child. This was a sort of Na tional university for parents on the extension tlan. whereby the opportu nity Is given to parents to better edu cate themselves for intelligent home making and child nurture. "The scheme enables parents to learn what the schools are doing, the meth ods employed and what is expected of the Child, so that they may enter Into effective co-operation with the teacher and the schooL Then, also, this parent teacher association gives parents the opportunity to study the conditions of their particular eommunlty that bear upon the welfare of the children, and it arouses their individual Interest and sense of community responsibility, to ward the care of the young. "Had you realized that the Congress of Mothers is the most democratic or ganization in the world?" asked Mrs. Schoff, impressively. "Its democracy one of its strongest features. Its membership was never drawn on lines of wealth or poverty. Its work Is only educational, and education recognizes no money lines; so. you see. crude women are not only welcome but de sired and sought. The crude woman made us. and we want them with us. "This work la not for social diver sion, but to open the way for the mother or the child of six years and older to learn to work with the teacher for the best interest of her child. Any other Idea belittles the great purpose behind the whole fabric of our body. "No friction is ever necessary. If the women abide by the laws of our con gress, no difficulty can arise. We are not there to run the schools, nor to in terfere with the work of either super intendents or teachers, and as a rule the attitude of the teachers is one of cordial welcome. Indeed, in many cases the first steps toward the formation of one of these home and school asso ciations are taken by the teachers. It must always be remembered that our work in every branch and detail is en tirely constructive." "Does this organization include in its membership only women who are mothers of children In school?" Mrs. Schoff was asked. "By no. means! We want the Inter est and co-operation of every one in terested In working to promote the welfare of the childhood of the world, and as the parent-teacher association does not get the mother until the child is six years old, nor does it especially appeal to the mother whose children have grown-up, two different circles have been created by the Congress, which enlists the activity of these women. "One, designed to fit the needs of mothers with Infants and little children under the school age, is called the mothers' circle. Now the various parent-teacher associations throughout the country have committees whose work Is to look up every mother of a baby In their respective communities and send her name and address to the bureau of education, so that she may receive the free bulletins issued by the children's bureau, public health ser vice and Agrioulture Department rela tive to child care, etc Already 40. 000 women are engaged In this work. "The other is for the woman with grown children and the childless wom an who wants to work for children. This is the child welfare circle. These are all affiliated with the national con gress through the state branch of the organization, if there is one; otherwise they may affiliate directly with the national. "Co-operation is the secret of suc cess, and all groups of women form ing themselves into any of these three classes of work for child welfare should affiliate with our body through their local state branch, both in order that their weaknesses may be stimulated through this connection with the na tional, and also that they may obtain official recognition." The congress has a large score of Worth-while achievements to which it points with pride. One of the greatest of these was the establishment of a department of home education in the Bureau of Education, which was ef fected in 1913 as a result of many years of efforts on the part of Mrs. Schoff and her earnest helpers. Aa there were no funds and no sal aries for this division from the Govern ment, generous members of the con gress donated money to pay the sal ary of a secretary to conduct the new offloe of which Mrs. Schoff was made direbtor. under the supervision of Dr. P. P. Claxton. September 15. 1914. the home education division of the Bureau of Education was opened with Mies Ellen C. Lombard as secretary. There is also a stenographer on salary and these two are the only salaries paid ln the entire machinery of this gigantic organisation. Great strides have been made through this new office, which has sent letters out to all the superintendents of schools all oVer the land asking for the names of women and organizations interested In working for promotion of child wel fare in the home and school. This bureau sends Out the literature pre pared for free distribution by the dif (Cinc;uild ud I'fce 4. Column 7.)