The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1896-06-20
TRAINED MOTHERHOOD.
The Maternal Instinct and the Need to
Have 1t Intelligent.


Have 1t Intelligent.
In limiting that there is anything
wrong about motherhood as it now ex-
lists | am conscious that go counter to
one of the strongest opinions of the
human race. 1t is claimed by the ma
jority that motherhood is an instinct,
and that, as such, it is sufficient to its
purpose and needs no education. I
shall try to prove that civilized mother
hood is much more than an instinct,
and needs the highest education. 1t
is necessary for the mother to under.
stand humanity culture, and also to
know that the main duties of mother
hood 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 not be little sufferers.
Scientists calmly claim it as a necessity
that four children should be born in
every family if the human race is not
to diminish in numbers, because so per
cent. of all children die before they are
five years old. OF what? Mainly of
preventable diseases. Who should pre-
vent them? Their mothers. But do
we have any conventions of mothers to
consider measlesq 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
it's great business of collaborating is
to lose half our children!
We are continually told of the SUI
perior mothers of great men. If the
superiority of the few great men is due
to the greatness of their mothers, to
what is the inferiority of the many
small men due? If women are respon-
sible for the status of the race, they ara
responsible for the gambling, drinking,
stealing men, as well as for Washington
and Lincoln. Motherhood needs to be
educated. But who reads books about
the care of children? The school
ma'ams.
Again, in thousands of years ought
not mothers to have learned the best
way to dress IL baby2 Yet the average
mother still clothes her baby in long
dress, in spite of instinct. The baby
trips upon tive have all seen them.
| The "instnet" of some mothers has
| taught them to wind up and swathc
| infants. Other mothers do not do it.
| Which is right? Some mothers tie up
a 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 circum-
| stances.
Woman's position, at once above and
| below, with bosses" above them, and
children and servants below them, has
been the most trying possible. No one
can maintain exact justice under such
conditions. Men have been useful TO
each other, but women have not, until
lately.
Women enter upon the greatest func-
ton of life without one days prepara-
ton, and their mothers let them, be-
cause they do not recognize it as bust
ness. We do not let man practice as
a doctor or druggist, or anything else
| that involves issues of life and death,
without training and certificates; but
the life and death of the whole human
race are placed in the hands of utterly
unframed young girls. | am not dis
| paraging the noble devotion of our
present mothers. know how they
struggle and toll. When that ire
mendous force of mother love is made
intelligent so per cent. of our children
will not die before they are five years
old, and those that grow up will be
better men and women. A woman will
no longer be attached solely to one lit
tie group, but will be also member Of
the community. She will not neglect
her own on that account, but will be
better to them, stronger and of more
worth as mother.-N. Y. Dispatch.