Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-05-09
TRAINED MOTHERHOOD.
The Maternal Instinct and the Need
to Have 1t Intelligent.

Inc Maternai Instinct and the Need
to Have 1t Intelligent.
Prom the New York Dispatch.
In limiting that there is anything wrong
about motherhood as 1t now exists / am
conscious that 1 go counter TO one of the
strongest opinions of the human race. 1t is
claimed by the majority that motherhood is
an instinct, and that. as such, ii is suffi-
Gent to it's purpose and needs no education
l shall try to prove that civilized mot her
hood is much more than an instinct, and
needs the highest education. 1t is neces-
sary for the mother to understand human
ity culture. and also to know that the main
duties of motherhood come before the child
is born
Our idea of motherhood is largely the
care of children in sickness the waiting
upon little sufferers: but when mothers
understand their business, children will no:
be little sufferers. Scientists calmly claim
II as necessity that four children should
be born in every family If the human race
is not to diminish in numbers. because fifty
per cent of all children die before they are
five years old. OF what? Mainly of pre-
ventable diseases. Who should prevent
them? Their mothers. But do We have any
ccnvocations of mothers to consider mea-
sizes? Mothers take it for granted that
children must be sick, and devote their
strength to nursing them. All that one-half
OF the race can do in its great business of
child rearing is to lose half our children,
We are continually told of the superior
mothers OF great men. If the superiority
of the few great men is due to the great
ness OF their mothers. to what is the liz
1eriorlty OF the many small men duey II
women are responsible for the status Of the
race. they are responsible for the gambling
Washington and Lincoln Motherhood
needs to be educated. But who reads books
about the care Of children? The school
ma ans.
in, fhn,,
mothers to have learned the best way to
dress a baby? Yet the average mother
still clothes her baby in a long dress, in
spite Of instinct. The baby trips upon it
We have all seen them. The instinct" of
some mothers has taught them 10 wind I'D
and swathe infants. Other mothers do not
do 1t. Which is right? Some mothers tie
up new baby In flannel bandage and
then walk the floor with a crying child and
say all children have to have the collie for
three months. Any of US would have the
collie under such circumstances.
Womans position, al once above and he
low, with bosses" above them and chill
dren and servants below them, has been
the most trying possible. No one can main
tain exact justice under such conditions
Men have been useful to each other hut
women have not, until lately.
women enter upon the greatest function
or NE without one days preparation, and
their mothers let them, because they do not
recognize II as a business. We do not LET
a man practice as a doctor or druggist or
anything else that involves issues cf rfe
and death, without training and certIfi-
Gates; but the life and death of the whole
human race are placed in the hands of Mt
teriy unframed young girls. / am not dis
paraglng the noble devotion Of our present
mothers / know how they struggle ard
ton. When that tremendous force of moth
er love Is made intelligent, fifty per cent Of
our children will not die before they are
nVe years Old. and those that grow up will
De better men and women. A woman will
no longer be attached solely to one little
group, but will be also a member of the
community. She will not neglect her own
on mat account, but will be better to them
stronger and of more worth as a mother.