Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-11-20

1t is hard to overestimate the value 81
any one department of our work, but we
get glimpSeS now and then of certain
distressing conditions that make us en-
thusiasts for the time being on one or
two departments over and above others.
For this reason the busy woman is
greatly exercised at the present writing.
over the Importance of mothers meet
ings
The ignorance and ''unthoughtedness"
of our young married women on the du
ties of mothers and the dangers to chill
dren, is alarming in its extent. Our girls
who have never been taught self-control
find themselves controlling little lives
which they shape for time and eternity.
Boys and girls whose most serious
thought is the pleasure Of the hour the
gay companion, the new dress. the lat
est novel. cradle in their arms an infinite
soul-a soul that never asked to be born.
a soul with infinite capacity for develop
ment, a soul with unmeaSured capacity
for pain. a soul that may be redeemed
or damned,
| have a girl friend who is always in
hot water because she was not taught
a few vital lessons in her growing days
She was not taught careful reserve in
giving friendship and cOmpanionship TO
the other sex. She was not taught the
dangers of the much applauded uncon-
Ventionality-the fence that guards 50
many of our precious possessions. Be
cause she has not learned these things
she gives her cOmpaniOnShp ana conn e
dence without reserve to any man who
appeals to her sympathies pride or intel
lect. She goes from one woe to another
by reason Of the. "faithlessness' OF these
friends. a 'faithleSSneSs' she would nev-
er have known had she been trained in
lessons of wOmanly reserve and dignity.
The mothers meeting of the w. {. T.
I. has almost limtless ground for It's en- r
dcavors. Every local union ought 70 be
able to reach number of young wives
and mothers to whom ii can adapt its
work according to their need.
Here is 4 mother. wise in every way
but in the food question. Her TWO and
five year old babies have the freedom Of
the table from pickles and coffee to pie
ana cake What can we do for her?
Another mother gives her baby boy
soothing potions in which alcohol plays i
part. The doctor advised it, and she
knowing no better, lays the foundation
for future she knows not of.
One mother | know of, keeps small
store. Because large portion OF her
trade comes from people who do not OBJ
serve the sabbath. she keeps her store
open half of every Sunday. Because
there is good money in tobacco, she
carries it. Because some young men like
to drop in and. with her husband, throw
dice for cigars. this is permitted. BE
cause two or three times inquiries have
been made for certain cheap novels, they
have been added to the stock. Yet. do
not know mother who seems more con
cerned that her two-year old boy and her
sweet baby girl should grow up Just
right. She respects the work of the w.
g. T. L. She would attend good moth
ers meeting but the section where she
lives is not covered by a local union ana
no white-ribbon mother knows her need.
Let there be review of the mothers
meetings Reorganize. readjust rede'i
cate Reach young mothers, old mothers;
brides brides TO be Look up helpful
literature. hunt up helpful ideas. The
cooking school. the kindergarten, we
purity meetings, the department Of health
and hygiene. the sewing school, the Gu! .
ture of the physical-all these are legiti
mate doors for the mothers meeting 70
enter. a.,
But. the fathers? says some one An,
that is another story for a later telling.
THE BUSY WOMAN.