The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-02-22

have come a great distance to attend
this First National Congress of Moth
erS, while many of you are from nelgh-
boring cities. That this congress (Which
we all feel must mark an epoch in the
individual lives of those at least who
attend) has been possible is due to the
noble generosity of a woman whose
financial aid and whose intellectual
grasp of humanity's greatest needs
have numbered her for many years
among Americas truest philanthropists
and especially as the benefactreSS of
childhood. 1 refer to our first vice pres
ident-Mrs. Phobe Hearst.
You have come with full hearts and
high hopes, and with such we greet you.
Bachelor or maid, father or mother you
are all most welcome. The love of
childhood is a common tie,which should
unite us in hottest purpose, and on this
common ground of our beautiful ma
tionaI capital let US devote our best eff
forts during these three days to a
prayerful consideration of our highest
objects, and go forth determined to
bring the work to full fruition.
The tireleSs energy and enthusiasm of
the women who for months past have
given their time and strength to this
cause needs no words of thanks from
me, with such an audience as this fac
ing them, beautiful in it's earnestness
and Inspiration
The mental attitude of the world to-
day is one of receptivity; never before
were people SO willing to accept new
thought from all sources 1t has been
u I1y SdlQ, cure was Inc voice OF
the past; to prevent, the divine whisper
of today
May the whisper grow into a mighty
shout throughout the land, until all
mankind takes it up as the battle cry
for the closing years of the century
Let mothers, fathers, nurses, educators
ministers, legislators and the rnightiest
OF all in its swift, far4reaching inf1ue-
ence-the press-make the child the
watchwOrd and ward of the day and
hour; let all else be secondary and
those of US who live to see the year
1925 will behold new world and new
people.
Untiring. universal, individual effort
with such organization only as may
prove helpful, will build a bridge upon
which struggling humanity may safely
cross into new land, leaving forever
the old, with its unending reformatery
movements, it's shattered homes; and
the keystone of that bridge will be ma
ternal love, while in that fair domain
the splendid edifice of the new civiliza-
ton will bear the cornerstone of home
There is nothing finer in literature
than many of the books and articles
pertaining to child-culture and kindred
topics, the first impetus to which was
given by that friend and prophet of
childhood-the great and good Froebel.
And when a mother in her own home
applies what she has learned from them
and reverently studies the three-foId
allure of the immortal being committed
to her care, she acquires the truest
finest culture the world can offer; add
ed to knowledge will be love, patience
and gentleness, which transcend all
learning.
1t is because most women have not
had the knowledge and training which
would enable them to evolve the beau
tiful possibilities of home life, that
they have in many instances found that
sphere narrow and monotonous.
Now that reform is being effected in
domestic science by the establishment
of schools where servants he
erly trained, and by the lifting of house
hold and kitchen work from the realm
of drudgery to that of science there is
a fair prospect of more bodily rest for
mothers, more time for study for and
with their children, and for outside rec
! reation of sort helpful to both mind and
body.
The higher branches of book learning
are we'll enough for the girl or woman
who has the inclination or time for
them but they should be secondary in
her education to the knowledge which
shall fit her for motherhood. I grant
you she may never marry, but as one
of the sex which the care and edu-
cation of childhood must rest, she
should know its needs and be ready
with head and heart and hand to serve
the cause of helpless infancy in any
emergency.
Is it probable that boy of twelve
who has had the ideal life of the kim
dergarten, succeeded by a course of in
struction in which the proper devel-
opment of the child's nature was made
equally important with mathematics,
would be a terror in his home?
Would he fill his little sisters heart
with truly maternal anguish by pre-
tending to torture her doll, or drive lit
tie brother to tears and angry words
by persistent teasing? '"Trif1es,' peo-
pie say, children will be children
The youth and enthusiasm and often
the strength of your growing boys and
girls is sacrificed to the Moloch of
mathematics, or to some other Moloch
of learning while character is forming
All too soon the plastic period is over,
and what boots so-called knowledge
if the man or woman is tyrannical self
ish, unjust or Indifferent? If character
building has been subordinated to the
so-called culture of the mind?
In the great mystery of birth God
gives an opportunity to the world which
has long been ignored. 1t is our duty
to work his will with these little ones,
to suffer them to go unto him Alasl
even the best intentioned parents and
teachers are often, through ignorance
of the nature of children, stumbling
blocks in their pathway.
How strangely the world has work
ed! How at variance with all natural
lawl For every single kindergarten
there are a hundred; nay, a thousand,
prisons, jails, reformatories, asylums
and hospitals. And yet society cries
that there is need for more of these.