Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1895-01-10
ELEVATE THE HOME.
Interesting Paper Read Bsfore a
Literary Union

Tue DeCOnu SAuNenb SuurCn THIS dIteT- |
noon. The basis for the discussions by |
a number of the members was an able |
paper by Mrs. S. Augustus Stevens. on |
"Woman's Part in the Best Education"
This paper was written originally for |
the Current Events Club and was read |
before that club November 10th. A
copious abstract of the paper follows:
speak, by way of introduction. of the
unseemly parade of everything in the line |
of womans work, with which the daily
press is catering to the spirit Of her activity,
its tendency to belittle woman's real dig
nifty, and to lessen the cooperative spirit
among those women who do not care for
the aggressive distinctions of sex. Every
profession, trade and occupation having
admitted women, we have now reached
the stage of so-called emancipation where
the desire to put all energy into the max
ing of career is becoming too prevalent,
and is sacrificing the best interests Of the
family.
The recent movement for Intellectual
growth and intelligent research among
women, which has multiplied clubs ana
declarations of clubs is a good one pro-
vided it is not carried to excess, increasing
the rush and hurry for which the Ameri-
can woman is now becoming as famous as
the business man. The mere study of
Dante and Goethe, the Swimming of
current events will not make life happier
or more wholesome for the rising genera
ton when the time thus expended is taken
from the palmer but none the less essen
tial duties OF life.
With all due respect for the valuable
work already accomplished by women,
take the liberty of affirming that the sins
Of omission are liable to cost us more
than those of commission. 1t is OF
| woman's work as the educator i'll the early
| formative periods, and her individual
work as the home maker in the fullest,
broadest sense of the word that shall
have most to say, for two lines embody
the whole question of the day and con-
tain mos: OF the problems which men and
women are called upon to solve.
FOR II the very beginning of education
and the early development of the indi-
| ridual soul, had been sooner looked to the
| question of reform would occupy less
| conspicuous place IN the caucuses of the
| present. 1t is the proper elevation of the
home, and the best extension of its in
tluences that speak most eloquentlv for
| Justice and truth; indeed this country has
long been reverenced abroad as the nation
of homes" and its freedom from some of
the social evils of the old world decadence
| has often been explained by the promi-
nence given to the counsels of good
women, for, however eloquent the equal
| suifragist NAV wax in the denunciatian of
her wrongs, woman has always welded
vast influence in this republic and all the
worse for the present state Of things she
IS welding it still, but often times and
literally, wrong end to-"
As nation, we are busy, and we want
to be busy, but those OF us who do not
labor to provide the home should see TO il
that we contribute our shares toward its
Intelligent and wholesome maintenance
and this of itself is enough to OCCUPY our
| h,NfIt al
practice. 1t is not worth while to expect
real scholarship to bring ease of mind
where documentary knowledge of SANTA
ton and hygiene should be our boast in
stead. To-day, as never before the old
statement, the proper study of mankind
Is man, rings with its prophetic force,
education, SOCIAL ethics and Humanitarian
ism being mere divisions of the one great
field.
However diverse the opinion with re-.
gard to the emancipation of women, we
can all agree that those OF us who do not
care for the ballot, have nevertheless a
certain responsibility in the formation OF
public opinion and general influence How
many educations do not avail because there
is nothing adapted to the greatest need OF
the nature2 How many wants OF the body
and brain are disregarded every day in
the institutions Of learning? Aud why !
, | Chiefly, because those who ought to know
are grossly ignorant of the system OF
routine and mechanism that is called IAN
education" Many communities have been
shaken to the very centre, as tile result of
an investigation of the public school
h system, many more are being stirred inlC
action and Portland itself has fallen into
!. line. We shall accomplish the good work
We have set our hearts upon in time, NJ
doubt, as other women have done before
{ us, but will we be honest and admit ON
share IN the oriBina! gong away uf things
5 Will we admit the wasted opportunities
d the careless interest, the real shifting a
C responsibilities Had We be I'm in the RICH
n way. and set up u miniature child garden
y in the very centre OF home, do you suppOs
=, we should have to argue long on tie tlesr
n ability OF putting a kindergarten where /
u would mean the well being Of thousands
If and TIE carrying of sunshine into disua
lie hOmesP Do you believe that this CIT
would occupy its present unenviabe posi-
If ton with regard TO its teachers salaries j
IL the mothers mad taken the right kind U
" interest in their chiIdren's instructors?
q AS the Frenchwuman at the World
n Fair Congress said, American women ar
Df always ION the committee Verify an
e. sometimes too much SO. but where the
k have served ON the school committee the
have ever proven their capabilities fu
"a good and practical work Briefly woman
e part in the best education" involves
VI practical knowledge Of household sCienc
- NLILH 10 tlllNeTolly IlOStulel
SIS instead OF being limited to home kitchen
IS and industrial schools; child culture I'll
ri kindergarten and further development
he the Individual; physical culture, the il
M telllgent understanding Of the norma
constitutions; true philanthropy in i
varied ramihcatiOns.
~ This is appealing to the clubs as nevC
or before. and to the Maine Federation b
longs the honor of rousing the women
this state to the Importance of the educ
tiunal problems of the day.
For not only the public school system
at but the effectiveness OF the present I'm
", vcrsity curriculum may be uuestiOue
n When 50 per cent OF the college brt
nd women of this country marry and OeCon
-, mothers. Is there any fitness in the hal
~ of learning turning out their graduate
Is better equipped for any of the pursui
er which they do not follow, and gross
ng ignorant oil the duties they really CnOosC
,r. As matter Of sentiment, the dumest
90 and atfectiona side of woman's nature
r.. never lost sight Of. Is there any reason wi
r. woman herself should ignore the fact tn
~, the superior intelligence is best display
- by the proportOnate development al
IN ennobing OF those powers with which 81
as wields her influence! 1t is ia her guardia
er, ship of the human family, with all
ly. possibilities and best interests in the form
ed ton periods of life, that she should fiji
ioi engagement for her every faculty al
H. never dream of thinking her vocation
~ the least monotonous.
ler One of the latest but most notable clu
lc- in the city of Baltimore, has for its al
to the study of those things most like
rse secure for the rising generation, soul
,ly heritage in both mind ami body, Tor d
ri loss of which nothing can ever compc
!, safe Even the literature of the prese
I IL .t.tT1 ustFl i NJ.