Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-02-23

free ourselves from that stupendous bondage
which 10 the basis OF all othsrs-the unheafth-
fulness Of fashionable dressI ''Cour~gs 10 -
contagious - cowardics," and the courage Of .
council Of women may vet lead ua into the
liberty Of costume tasteful - il IL reasonable
and hsalthful - it h chaste.
HxADeuARrxas FOR woxEN's WORK.
Another practical outcome that might be
looked for from such q confederation Of
women's efforts in religious and philanthropic,
educational and industrial work, might be the
establishment in every town and city of head
qusrters for vomen's work Of every kind.
There they could have Q home for their enter
Prises, a hall for their meetings, and, by build
ing ON the plan that Mrs. Carse suggests and
We are carrying out In Chicago, they could,
from the rental of such q building, realize
money for thsir work. The recent gift from
the projectors OF Glen Echo (the great Chau-
tsuqua adjoining Washington, D. Co. Of ample
for this council, marks another epoch in the
movement to 'ariss and build" which Is the
latest material evolution OF our mighty cause
We have long met to read essays, make
speeches and prepare petitions; le. US here
womanhood, for childhood and the home
Men have told us solemnly, have told NJ often.
and in good faith. no doubt, that 'they would
grant whatever the women Of the nation
asked for" Our time to ask unitedly has
Wditeu iOHB, out ~ ID mere al lQ6t.
Rev. ANNA aARLrN SPENCER.
Charities and philanthropiss was the general
subject of the papers Of the morning and Rev.
Anna Garlin Spencer was the FIRST ON the pro-
gram and took for her particular subject ''The
Control and Social Care Of Dependent Classes;
Womsn's Share in the Work"
Mrs. Spencer took the opportunity to criti-
cize much Of the work that is being done for
the poor and mentally deficient of the land
although she made many exceptions to this.
She held that in many cases the poor are
used to work upon in an experimental
way. still she maintained that the
Of the low, should not be allowed to breed after
their kind. She did not take the ground that
drunkenness Is only o disease In its first
stages 1t 10 a vice and the druukard is
ever, i beoonss disease and should be treated
- such.
THE NsTrTUFfoN MINDED.
She recommended An institution that should
combine the features Of a prison, a manual
Workshop and a medical hospital The patient
should be kept under control of medical
specialists In the insanity line. In this place
confirmed dipsomaniacs should be kept
for life, or at any rate only let out
Is tieiet-of-leave msn, to be returned
absence Of friends who would place the patient
In such an asylum . certain number OF COM
mitments, say ave, for drunkenness should
entitle the person to his share of confinement.
This she would substitute for the present
superficial SUI i and temporary methods Of treating
Mrs. Spencer also told Of the need
Of places Of absolute legal restraint
for abandoned women that should be
at once asyiums and hospitals. Such
women should be committed and confined to
tv.ak stSstrn fo,l e u
The evil cannot be remedied by faith cure.
Gods mercy must be reinforced BY the wisdom
that cones from God. There must be educa-
ton out Of evil.
woAAN's WORK.
Asto woman's work in the work abe said that
much Of the work of private charity and phil
snthropy in this country is done by men. This
10 unwise. They should not be left alone
Women, however, should be represented in the
government OF all great institutions aud
wherever child or woman 10 to
De found TO need help and announcement
In any such institution women of acknowledged
ability and character should be at the head TO
take the place Of the motherhood Of humanity
Education % the keynote Of reform and women
must take their full share Of this work.
Mrs. Anna Gsrlin Spencer, who was one Of
the leading speakers in the woman's Congress
has reputation already in this city as an earn.
est woman, and ID thoroughly we'll equipped by
education and training for any public work to
which she turns her attention. Her home 10 In
Providence, RI. She is 9 good preacher. but is
not . regularly ordained minister. The con-
gregation she serves ID that Of the Bell Street
Chapel, whore an Independent religious body
meets. The chapel Il in memory Of James
Eddy and Is supported by fund he left for
TIE purpose Of spreading independent re-
the work has prospered, and under her dircc-
ton 1t has been the impulse to many philsn-
thropic endeavors in other directions. Her
husband " . Unitarian preacher, having two
churches under his control in Providence.
The couple have one::daughter. Mrs. Spencer
is said to be one Of the foremost examples Of
the best new England training and culture In
the subject matter of her essay abe knsW
exactly. what she was talking about, having
given the subject great deal Of attention, and
having the ability 70 put her practical views in
. clear, concise style.
AIs. FASNY .. Axss.
Mrs.. Fanny b Amsa Of Boston, who was for
. number Of years the president Of the Chill
dren's Aid Society Of Philadelphia, read an in
tsresting and valuable paper ON the subject,
THE Care OF Dependent Children" Mrs
Ames said that the success Of charity was often
gagged by the number Of dependent persons who
sre cared for. The truest charity Is to remove
the causes Of pauperdom and crime. chart
table institution 70 show the highest success
bhooAN w cAuptvs Mou0y up0ub IN OetteFlUR
ventilation, sewerage and in every line that
will make life more cheerful aud rational
IL money wisely spent.
Avast amount Of well-msant charity foSs sstray
and accompanies little Of the good IL might
Mrs. Ames then went on TO describe the nature
and working Of the aid society Of Philadelphia,
which has for its object the removal of children
from aims houses and similar institutions and
placing them in private homes. What
surprised her was the number Of homes
that opened its doors willingly for these little
vain. The family 10 the proper place for .
child and poor home may be better than Q
good institution. The family plan OF caring
for children avoids . number Of evils among
them the contamination that comes from con-
tact with others who may already be familiar
with the principles OF vice and vicious habits.
DlsAsrRous kTRIcTs uPoN CHILDREN
The massing Of children together removes
The power and taste for living alone. Ownsr-
ship In common and the fact that all the necss-
saries Of life comes from some unknown source
10 bad enough in its effects upon adults, but Il
IL particularly disastrous upon children. She
hsfseh had seen three generations In one
aims house, all liAgitimafe. The Rrandnothor
bad never left the Institution.
One Of the good features Of the ohildren's aid
work 10 the fact that IL seeks o home for the
mother along With her little babe. TAis 10 an
sxosllsnt plan, for even though the child be IL
legitimate IL nay BE- the check that viii hold
back the mothsr from further downfall.
nrng ALICE Q. yLSfc1En.
Mis- Alice O. Fletcher, who ID special agent
Il