Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-02-16
Education of Mothers.


of Mothers"
Education of Mothers.
Upon the conclusion of the address Mrs.
Birney introduced Mrs. Mary E. Green,
NJ D., president of the National Household
Economic Association, who, she said, had
been three days trying TO reach the city.
Mrs. Green was received with warm APP
plause. She delivered a thoughtful ad-
dress on some of the needs in the educa-
ton of mothers. She spoke of the impor-
tance of women knowing al about home
hygiene and the preparation of foods. She
thought daughters ought to be trained in
domestic science. In speaking of the ig-
nOrance in regard not only to proper foods,
but of the care of the body, the speaker
expressed the opinion that there would
have been little sickness in the military
camps in this country during the war with
Spain if the men had known how to take
care of themselves
She believed, she said that modern wO-
men, members of numerous clubs, are ia
miliar with about every art except the
art of living, Many women take a lively
interest in the cleaning of the streets of
cities, while the sinks at their homes were
neglected. She spoke of the encroachmeuts
of boarding house life upon home life, and
said there was growing ignorance of how
to manage a home.
In the opinion of the speaker, the duties
of a wife and mother constituted profess
sion, and there should be a proper educa-
ton and training before entering upon the
life work. AT present, the speaker said
this profession was entered into without
the slightest preparation
She advocated the establishment by Con-
gress of a national health bureau, which
should be used for the dissemination of in
formation about the care of children; about
tuberculosis in men as is now done in the
case of animals; the dangers of polluting
the streams with sewerage and in general
the health of the nation.
10 b11raa
apparently met with the favor of the audi
ence. as 1t was greeted with the hearty
clapping of hands.
Upon the conclusion of the address Mrs
Lily DevereuX Blake called attention to the
fact that the National Council of Women
was now in session in this city, and moved
that fraternal delegate be sent from the
congress of mothers to that body. The
motion was adopted and the president ap-
pointed Mrs. Blake as such delegate.
Improving Conditions.
The next speaker on the program was
Mr.. Horace Fletcher, who made ar address
in favor of an effort to improve the condi-
ton of the colored children, for the reason
that a large percentage of crime in this
class of the population is due to the neglect
of children in the period of infancy He
said the effort to improve social conditions
ought to begin in the lower ranks, in the
sums, and especially with the children. He
referred, he said, to the negro population
merely as illustrating his thought In eIab-
Grating his argument he gave some statist-
les about the situation in New Orleans.
In that city, he said, 90 per cent of those
arrested for committing crime are negroes,
while 80 per cent of the money raised by
taxation is devoted to the correction of
crime and disorder. He urged that the
delega ties, upon the return to their homes
seek to create sentiment in favor of edu-
eating and caring for the children of thu
city and in this way, he said, such a revo-
luton would be wrought that in the course
of few years no child would be neglected
or allowed to grow up in ignorance.
Announcements Made.
The president made some announca ments.
stating that the program as arranged for
the meetings would be carried out, and
confidence was expressed that in spite of
difficulties caused by the weather The pres
ent me- ting of the congress would be a
profitable one She stated that Mrs A L.
Barber will give a reception to the dele
gates this afternoon from ) to T. at her
home Belmont, on 18th street extended
Mrs. Birney also stated that owing to
the inability of the corresponding secretary
and the recording secretary to get to the
| city in time for the opening session. their
reports would have to be deferred until a
| later session
Development of Children.
DIR. G. Stanley Hall of Worcester, Mass.
| was next introduced and read carefully
prepared paper on the results of investi-