The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-07-31
IGNORANCE VS.. EDUCATION.
Magazines and Newspapers Are Dis
cuSstnE the Question.

bHu NeWspdpeEs are Dis-
cuSstnE the Question.
Do the higher education and greater activ-
ity of American women improve or injure
American homes? The debates on the sub
1ect are numerous and vehement and 1t Is
safe TO say that of the magazines and news
papers that treat the subject at ALL one-haf
depreciate the influence of higher education
and the other half uphold 1t.
The August Arena prints an article from
the pen of Mrs Rhodes Campbell The
American Girl; Her Faults and Her Virtues
In it the writer gives her sanction to the
following quotation from French source;
The extraordinary activity of women In
the United States. although devoted to ad-
mirable things. seems TO take them away
from home a little too much; and lately
have read In some articles signed by Dor
othy Maddox what ! should never have sus-
pected. namely. that two-thirds OF the
American children-not the richer OF course
are suffering from lack of good food becau g
the mother assumes too many unnecessary
duties. the entire family waiting very often
before the heed of the house comes back at
night before an hope for a square meal.
Do not let the spread of knowledge of soci-
ology and of general ideas among the girls of
eh6 sGture prevent their devotion to the
many small duties upon which the happi-
ness of thoss &aarest to US depends"
IN connection with Mrs. Campbells views
1t Is somewhat humiliating to read the fol-
lowing statement Of a New York physician:
statement printed In The Sun. After
speaking OF the proper treatment OF children
he says:
'fThe theories concerning the care of babies
OF forty years ago are enough to make one 8
hair stand on end, and the worst of 1t Is
the traditions stick so tightly that 1t is very
difficult to uproot them. The mothers among
the poorer class are too ignorant to under,
stand the sanity OF modern methods, ana
the educated mothers are either overinduig ant
or influenced by the advice OF older women,
who cling TO tradition. 1t is pleasure 10 work
with the young mothers in wel!-to-do MI
lies today. They intelligent, ra iopal,
earnest and ready to assist physician; but
the grandmothers and maiden aunts. with the
best intentions in the world, play havoc with
the babies.
Now right here want to say one thing,
and say it strongly. There's an awful amount
of nonsense talked about the earelessness
and responsibility of fashionable mothers,
and about the higher education of woman
sert that the most devoted and self sacrificing
mothers are found in the common walks OF
life. I say that is absolute rot. I've had
experience with thousands and thousands Of
mothers of ali sorts and conditions, and I've
found that the better educated the woman Is
the better mother she makes Our college
girls have clear, logical minds. They know
something of physiology and physics ana
hygiene. When I explain to one OF them he
vital importance of a certain proportion OF rat
and sugar in babys food or the dang or
slight mistakes in diet or in the care of
baby she understands exactly what 1 msan,
feels the responsibility. and follows my d.
INDUCES the child, neglects my direcdops.
and probably fbs to ME when l tax her WI
having diSObeyed orders. AS Tor SGc.etV WOin-
en- do not find that they neglect the bab1ss.
They don't have them in their arms | the
time and are not perDetually feeding them,
but that's lucky for the babies. l know
dozens OF wealthy mothers in this city, lead
ers in society, women whose checks are good
for thousands sometimes fer millions, who
spend three hours every day preparing their
babies food and will not allow any one
else to attend to the bottles, because / have
convinced them that one cannot rely upon
nurse in such matters Ii would b. good
thing If every girl were compelled to taxi
thorough course in intelligent care of bakies
before being allowed to marry; but, as the
proportion of educated women increases, thu
proportion of healthy vigorous children will
Increase. That's a sure thing
Mrs Mary Roberts Smith, ass slant prof s.
sor Of soc o'ogy in Leland Stanford university,
is making a special Investigation OF police
court corruption. She recently made COM
prehensive report to the philanthropic school
on The Police Courts of New York City,
In that report Mrs. Smith maintained that TIE
first step toward effective reform in the police
court system was a thorough renovation OF
the police force.
The subjects covered by Mrs. SIN this uni-
Versity ectures-open to both men and wo-
men-include charity and correction, social
pathology. immigration. sociology of the
family. crime and penoogy. and household
management In class OF fifty in household
management Mrs Smith has had twelve men
students One of her pupils is now steward
in New York settlement.