Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-02-28
NOW, NOW, NOW, NOW.
,,orurRs' CONGRESS- sTIRs UP oUR
ALTON CORRESPONDENT.
The Result, Relieved Feelings on
the subject OF Submissive Wsvc.
and Hearing Children-Some Per-
.onsI Notcs-Wld Geese.


correspondence OF the Dispatch)
AFTON. VA. February 2G-Up here
bcvoui the circuit OF daily papers and tole-
phones we who are given to think at ali
81 outside issues have our own ideas
qhcre are usually formulated upon
STRONGER lines. and arc subject. perhaps.
10 a cooler analysis than where actual
happenings bias the Judgment with en-
tb..asm This is a preamble.
A dear old country lady n woman or
rare grace OF manner. and who in former
years had seen much OF the great world
in hich places, was reading a city paper
the other day with such an intent look
rstI Hvoluntarily asked what absorbing
topic held her rapt attention.
"This" she answered, turning the
paper. Il am thinking how strangely this
word congress" sounds in connection with
women. and Of the Mothers Congress.
in session In Washington.
"And IS &c not grand thlng7' / wanted
90 know.
'It would be-" was tho wise reply. III
they would only complete IT, Does It not
sesm that these good women Of the nation
have met, as the old song goes. and they
have parted The addresses. even IN
synopsis. were very instructive and ruu
o. high and ennobling thoughts. but they
covered only two essential points IN the
better rearing Of children, and for neither
OF these are We rivcn sound. common
sense practical remedy for any essential
evil"
"And what" I venturod 10 ask in the
face Of an this. "were the two pOints?'"
'Tho moral responsibility or women IN
herelity and the education Of mothers"
replied my friend land each Of these In
cudcs the other
This conversation SGT me TO thinking.
The worst influence transmitted by n
mother o. her child IS fear. Who shall
say that 10 IS not often stamped upon
the child by "a mothers own serwle and
os Ms Helen Gardner expressed It I'm
her address last wcek-her master
serving character? Perhaps this Is
rather too forcibly spoken, yet one has
only 20 60 among tho masses Of people.
-D communities away from the civilized
centres and note the abject subserviency
90 its women 20 their husbands, which
IS all the more pathetic because these
wives and mothers DO not know OF. or
ask for. any other condition.
I have been In these homes where the
wife moved about self-repressed I'm her
husbands presence, and in his absence
Invariably alluded 10 him as "he" and
when she lifted the monitory finger. with
"Sa' children, your father is comingr
at h's approach, as II he were n bear or
the Great Mocul OF Tartary.
Among better class Of people this SIS
the kind of man who causes his chill
dren 20 think home great deal nicer
without hin. and I'm which the mother
though doubtless she has come TO think
flst cs they 90. feels I'm duty bound TO
reprove them instead Of giving the father
so understand what is the family senti-
maut regarding him-a bit Of disagree
able candor, that might cost her q new
dress or bonnet, hut, persisted in, would
mend matters considerably.
A QUESTION.
How can q race be endowed with cOur-
cre where women are not girded and
protected by q mans pride Of position.
C~ The refining influences of education?
.s the question our Congress Of Mothers
needs 20 discuss. I believe the solution
goes away back OF national gatherings,
and calls for new statute to the state
Constitution by which l DO not mean
political rights"
Another evil IN this blind slavery of
woman is that It warps her own moral
idea Of right and wrong. With the IN
exorable sternness of Ignorance. the
mother eXacts from her children the
same kind Of obedience she renders-the
obedience OF fear.
do not think the Mothers Congress
touched upon the corporal punishment
of children. Perhaps, in this enlightened
age it was thought unworthy or men
ton. 1 wish they had dilated upon the
horror Of it in all it's forms-the EULER
the strap, the sWitch-each the knout,
whatever its name, whose use began IN
AN age when of language there was lit
lie. and the displeasure Of those ID
rowor showed itself IN the panNmine
that spoke I'm blows and bruises Of the
flesh.
i wish these noble mothers had sent
out circulars from Washington to every
parent In the land, asking for their sig
natures that this relic OF the dark ages
might be abolished! That they would
never whip their children again!
what. neveri do 1 hear some one say!
eyes. fathers and mothers Of America
never"
wonder il the stern, the unrelenting
Parent ever went to the school Of ma
tune and learned the sweetest lesson
therein? If they were taught to notice
the beasts Of the field? Is not the stu
dent Of nature charmed with the tender
ness Of Mother Avis Aries for her pretty
eve lamb2 or Of the homely COW as
She smooths caressingly the SOFT coat
OF the calf at her side, showing her pride
and foudness in her dumb fashion? Ana
t.U me- Ohl lover OF harmonious nature,