The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1897-02-22

not only on the present of their own cElI-
drcn's existence. but also on the future
of the American man and woman in citi-
zcnship. health. morality and intellectual
strength.
From all parts Of the United States came
women. wcll-known as leaders in kinder
garten work. in the uplifting of the masses
through children. and of the physical care
of infants and small people.
\ perfectly equipped nursery at the
Arlington was one of the features OF the
congress, and there the young mother who
needed such knowledge learned all that was
necessary for the care of Il little one.
The meeting Wednesday was opened with
an eloquent address by the president and
originator or the organization, Mrs. The
odore w. Birncy w2o is wei-knoWn In
Atlanta. and her greeting was responded
To by Mrs. Mary Lowe Dickinson, presi-
dent of the great national council of wo-
men.
Among other representative women who
delighted the audience during the CON
grcss with short talks ana speeches were
Mrs. Margaret +. Sangstcr Of Harper's
Bazaar ana the author OF many great poems
for grown folks and children, Mrs. Maud
Darlington Booth, one of the great spirit
ual lights of her country, Mrs. Helen II.
Gardner. editor of The Arena ana the
great authority ON heredity. whose works
are accepted by physicians the world
over; Mrs. Jenness Miller, the leader OF
dress reform. and many others OF note.
Mrs. SanSster's paper on Reading
Courses for Mothers" was one of the most
charming Of the entire series. II was
with the practical thought allied to the
sound practical sense which characterlzes
that queen OF gentlewomen. Her presence,
her voice and her manner cnarLned her
audience completely. She has the shining
white hair OF middle age with the com
plcxion and expression OF gir!. She has
one son, "but," she says In speaking of
her ideas of mothers duties. II never
went seriously to work with u daily oc-
cupttion until my child was old enough to
do without mothers constant supervi-
sion"
Mrs. Poebe Hearst has from the first
given the organization her active patron
age and assistance. and. indeed.
its founder says that without this
generous and noble womans aid
the idea OF mothers congress
would not have taken so fast and SO
quick hold upon women far and near.
The congress- practical teaching was its
chief feature and every woman who came
to it went away imDued with larger idea
of the word mother than she had ever
entertained before. Sne realized indeed not
only the needs of her own immediate fam
lily, but what Intelligent motherhood meant
to her country. She began to study the
condition of her people from that outlook,
to see how a race like ours was living too
fast developing the brain at the expense of
the body: how we taught our daughters
how to be clover and pretty rather than
strong and our sons how 20 make money
rather than muscles.
With this knowledge spread broadcast.
wholesome training for American youth
childhood and infancy must necessarily
follow.
A feature of the mornings meetings was
the privilege of asking questions for
hour or so before dishanding and many
ana often amusing queries came as the
listeners could discover straight from the
mothers heart. one woman wanted to
know what to do with a boy of fourteen