The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-04-23

series of brilliant and powerful lectures,
she yet found simple words in which to
tell of love of country to the tots in n
kindergarten attended by tho children
of Mrs. Henry i. Stone. Since coming
to New York by Mrs. Cleveland's invita-
ton, she has given talks in the private
school ut Dobb's Ferry, attended by the
little daughter Of Vice-President Nor
ton.
II don't want to appear in the light
of rcvolutionist," she said, when be-
traycd symptoms of an indiscreetdesire
to clap hands, but only, before Anglo
mania gets firlncr root, to open
women's eyes moro widely to the fact
that this, seriously and without
bravado, is the greatest country in the
world. Foreigners see it and wonder
Mt our lack of realization.
eve are in danger of being donation
allied from above and from below. We
used to get the bulk of our immigrants
from self-governing stock, they wcro
Tcutons; now we are getting Hungar-
ians, Poles, Italians, who have no COM
prchension of the spirit of our institu-
tions, but who are mighty power in
our cities.
II wouldn't shut the gates against
them, but how shall we assimilate
them if we stand aloof and let our
selves also be dcnationalized from
above, if we take no. pains to foster the
spirit of Americanism2"
"Whnt Is that spirit?'
"Americanism essentially is tho re-
sponsibility Of the individual for tho
Government. 1t is the government Of
the people, for the people md by the
people. Many men shirk this response
bility, but Prof. James Bryce snys no
other country owes SO much to its
women. and it will owe them yet more
If once they fully recognize the power
they might exert in keeping the breath
of life in the old faith in American
hopes, aspirations and ideals"
You do not think that faith is droop-
ing?"
'By no means; but see how we leave
it to foreigners to write and to nDpre-
ciatc our history; think Of the candid,
critical and philosophic estimate in
Brycc's experimenting volumes, though
on our side, to be sure, John Fiske is a
strong name"
"Whcn was the National spirit strong
est in us?''
IF you mean, when did we discuss
our institutions most broadly and feel
the most jealous and personal interest
in them, in the formative period after
the Revolution"
"And for what reason have wo be-
come less Amcrican?"
II do not say that we have; I only
speak of tendency. Our little bows 90
trotting about In sailor suits with the
names of Queen Victoria's warships let
tered on them. Our women find senti-
ment in European ruins, of stone and Of
flesh and blood, and one hears that there
is no perspective in American history.
''1f you look at it properly there is q
glorious perspective, for we arc the re-
suit of all that has been, the finest fruit
of evolution
'The Europeans, whom we admire,
always admire that in us which Is in
hcrcnt and distinctive, not copied. EN-
erson says imitation Is suicide and our
American women may we'll take the
Monroe doctrine that the United States
shall not be considered as subjects for
future colonization by any foreign pow.
ers,' and refuse to have their minds col
onized by foreign ideas"
as American history taught with sui
ncient enthusiasm in our schoolsP"
Very seldom. Love Of country ought
to be learned, as it is, for instance, in
SaXony where they begin history with
Saxon story, in every classroom. Our
boys ought to absorb the American
orations, our girls to grow up, con-
sciously proud to have part in a coun-
try that is wrestling SO gloriously with
humanity's problems, and in whose
struggles the ethical sense of women is
so important factor in deciding tho
victory"
What do you give women to rcad?"
For romance, the expeditions of La
Sale, who took possession of New
Franco for Louis the Great, King Of
Franco and Navarro my rhetoric used
to say, This is the narration of n great
and glorious undertaking. There is
romance in the planting of every
State, and for human interest take the
memoirs of Mrs. Madison and Mrs.
Adams, the lives Of the statesmen and the
anti-slavery movement. No country has
fuller or more thrilling story"
And you would have women-?"
Appreciate, and that they may ap-
prcciatc. know; study the history Of
their own country as critically. loving
ly and intelligcntly as they study
browning; fit themselves to discuss tho
larger problems of politics with under
standing, and so realize and cause their
children to realize what it means to be
American citizens"
"Why haven't we National hymn"
Il wish l might say The Battle
Hymn of the Republic held that po-
sition, because it was written by q