National Republican., 1880-06-14
aNn pesrerandum de RepublIca.o .
ny MRS. EvELEEN l.. MASON.


thinkers.
Women say of tho District as we are prone
to say of each other, aud the late human chat
tells, that, considering the lack of that freedom
which renders the individual life fair expo.
nont of tho individual will, this disfranchsed
District, like tho disfranchised in general,
ought TO be quite commended for its complra-
tive degree of civilization. True, paupers in-
crease aud multiply like flies in n diseased
district. True, crimes are condoned and
criminals fed and cherished, because blunder-
ing punishment cannot and never will reach
the basal evil, notwithstanding tho passage Of
the new bill for the increase of the District
police, and the extension of the Jurisprudence
of justices of the peace.
These ruinous conditions exist because the
increase of diseased, criminal, paupor classes,
like the mountain torrent sweeping on and
gathering force continually on its way, has
utterly overwhelmed us.
The expense and abuse endured by house.
holders from the Incompetence and theftof the
servants goes on and the thieves remain un-
prosecuted through u self.condemning, though
perhaps unacknowledged, sense that those con.
ditions are the natural outgrowth of neglect.
Respectable people are humbly enduring the
burden Of those diseased, disordorly classes,
scarce realizing that the cause of this rank
growth of vice in the District is the incubus
which rests always and ever the DISTINGUISHED.
Inc NOFllDlO JACK OF SCHOOLS TOT
child life, the equal lack of institutions for
mending people up morally and physically the
worse, lack Ofheaven sseeond best gift to man
work and the general lack of civic enterprise
and of those uses and inspirations which would
convert Washington into q city of homes are
attributable to one all.suilicicnt cause. The
District of Columbia is dependent supplant
on the favor of a self-absorbed congress. u body
of men who doubtless are accomplishing some
uses for themselves and their constituencies,
but who have rs much regard for the necossi-
ties of this poor ward of government AS peO-
pie in power generally have for tho necessities
and rights Of mere supplants.
Poor Columbia is an impecunious suppliant.
She sees laws made by which she is governed
without her consent She looks on i'll trem-
bling while the way TO the pit is legally
opened before her sons and daughters. She
petitions and is snubbcd- congressman all
know that She prays and is scorned, and
finally she sinks back in the lethargy of the
enchaned and outraged.
Why are the fair lands round this city-tho
heights of fGeorgetown aud Arlington, and tho
nearer suburbs-so generally open wastes aud
deserted 2 Why do not art, literature and all
the graces Of highest civilization adorI this,
the seat of the most glorious Though
as yet problomatic) government tho sun
over shown upon? The clear-sightcd will
discover that these stagnant conditions
exist because the District is a stulti-
fed, fettered ward of government, instead of a
free, self-poised queen Disabled and dom0ral-
ized, this ward of government furnishes to the
observing perfect picture Of the average be-
dizzencd, but q morally and mentally crippled
pet of u variable tempered master and owner
Washingtons external decorations do credit
to congress, her master She has been well
dressed, but she is lily developed She has
throngs of visitors but none who call her
mlthnr np hpn1n AZ
young life, but she does not own her children.
Seeing dark destiny before them, she cannot
interpose. She OWNS nothing but what she
wears, and scarcely that. She cannot say, mo
more expense on my external decorations till
| the children at my heart are redeemed" Like
tho poverty-stricken queen of old, she can
show trinket-chains and lands, but, unlike the
mother of the GrRcci pointing to her sons, she
| cannot eXclaim These arc my jewelsw Like
apples of Sodom, beautiful without, she is
ashes Within
| Poor Columbia! We weep with thee; and
yet we women ali, and this poor disfranchsed
| ward" though ranked with idiots and crimi-
nails, must do our best TO buffet tho torrent of
| disease crime and pauperism, for the most
innocent OF US will be guilty unless we dyke
out the vile flood with rampant of saved
| children.
Some of us havo plunged in medid9 res to the
| utmost length Of our chains. True, like the
enslaved prinGcsses of Jehovah, VIC are trying
| to make brick without straw before it becomes
| fashionable but since diamonds are now made
| of simple chemicals, it shall 20 hard with us;
but poor trinkot-gracod Columbia shall, like
the mother OF the Graoci, have jewel to show
| for every son.
A metamorphosng laboratory of this kind
has been started at Bethany chapel, where
waits from two to five years old, under the
magic alllahest, intelligent love- through kin
| dergarten power, are transformed from wild
bits of passion to thinking beings.
| woman is bonniest of a'-when she's doing
what must be DONE" Bonny indeed are the
young ladies who, trusting TO the intelli-
genco of the community to supply that me-
| dium of exchange, commonly yclept money
| no sooner had the use of the schOol-room been
| given them than thoy gathered the children
| in and there toll through these hot days
Friends of the New York avenue church CAV,
the use of the mission chapel and some citi
zens have already contributed to the kinder
| garten fund. There is TO be formed society
which shall be u branch of the great FrOebe
union. strong conviction everywhere OK
lists that to care for neglected babies before
they are old enough for public school restraint
| Is to redeem society
The Misses Graves and also Mrs. Pollock
full of the sense OF tho Importance of thi.
| work of the new age, are making gcnerOu:
offers of instruction to young ladies who are
competent to learn this peculiar system o
! teaching.
All over the city are mission chapels situated
| in the heart of the needy districts. These arC
used ifty-twO half.days out of the 73O half
days, and the rest of the time they are un
used Both on account Of their vicinage and
size, these little buildings would be admirable
to use as beginnings Of the free kindergarten
system, which will sooner or later be estab
ished. Calvary society has such a one oui
near the region yet uncleaned from the name
of Murder bay. The Sabbath hours influence
which goes into the little lives in that vicinity
is but drop OF water in the sea of evil mhu
ences which swamp the little creatures
E.strcot church aud New York avenue, full Of
broad intelligence aud clear sight of the neces
sites OF society and the nation, are already
giving attention to this fundamental work.
The churches and chapols which run to
waste six days out of the sovon would bo more
thoroughly consecrated if they were utterly
given up to the sweet daily uses which make
Joyful human life. When this is perfectly and
continuously done, we shall have no cause t.
groan over the decay of morality, and no oc
casion to have recourse torevival parOxysms rs
n demonstration that religion is power and
redcmptive love u triumphant energy.
OF course, il this District We're self-poisod
municipality instead Of n dependent nihility
she could stand in the grandeur of entran