St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1897-02-26
Letter From Washington.

The first National Congress of Mothers
has just closed its three days session 1t
has been wonderful success in regard
to weather, numbers and programme.
All reforms and societies have their
inception in some ones mind; the idea OF
such society originated with Mrs.
T. W. Birney Of this city less than year
since, but it never could have assumed
its present Organization and proper
tions had it not been for the material aid
and influence OF that wealthy, generous
hearted lady, Mrs. Phoebe Hearst,
widow of Ex-senator Hearst. who con-
sders her money a sacred trust, to be
used for the good of Others and not for
her own pleasure primarily. Mrs.
Hearst had engaged the large and beau
titu banquet hall at the Arlington hotel
and committee rooms for headquarters
at cost of $500 per day for three days,
and had extended cordial invitation to
the public, regardless OF color line, to
attend the sessions, supposing that it
would be sufficient for all purposes
Wednesday morning, Feb. II, found
the 600 chairs, all the standing room
available, anti rooms, halls and entrance
thronged with women of all ages, with
slight sprinkling of men, and hundreds
were outside pressing for entrance. One
reporter OF the press, who came late and
vainly attempted an entrance, declared
there were 5000 women there, it seemed
to him. Such universal reponse from
ladies all over the country from sur
rounding districts as well as from the
city, was matter of great surprise to
the leaders of the movement 1t seemed
as if an electrical current had moved all
the mothers and teachers to attend from
the East and West, the North and
South.
One old man vergng towards 80,
seated among the women, was asked il
he was interested. He said, "Yes, it
might seem to be queer place for an old
bachelor to come, but he had brought III
4 children, and he was good deal
interested. His lather had died and LEFT
seven children, and the care and support
OF them came largely upon him. Their
later in liIe his sister died and left sever
children, and doubling up his arm h,
SAID the youngest could be put under it
and last year the last one had married
The ladies who were all standing rounc
him declared the old man had a right tC
keep his seat when he had been such {
worker in home missions. Considera bl,
curiosity was experienced to see tn,
young man from California who wa.
sent on as delegate by the ladies.
At 10 a. nj, Wednesday morning, Mrs
Hearst called the meeting to order anc
introduced Mrs, Brney, the president
who gave her address Of welcome t.
bachelor or maid father and mother, al
are welcome The love OF childhood i
a common tie, which should unite all il
hottest purpose. The mental attitude O
the world is one of receptivitv. 1t ha
truly been said that, "to cure was tn
voice OF the past; to prevent the divin
whisper of today" Physicians nov
prefer the word tendency to do good o
evil, rather than attribute all to phvsica
: heredity. They prefer to look to child
; future, rather than to its past. Wit
+ proper surroundings children may rise t,
: a brighter level. Child culture is a,
= important subject for consideration.
, very eloquent response was made b.
, Mrs. Mary Lowe Dickinson of New YorI
+ city for the delegates. They were we
, coined to a feast OF recogntions of tn
: same ideas, opinions and convictions an,
5 grand results might be expected fror
: such interchange The problems of labor
{ philanthropy, politics and religion bea
, against the heart Of humanity today a
: never before, except in the heart c
Christ. Every new organization ha