The National tribune., 1899-03-02
FOR THE BETTER-I 7hF.

The Mothers IN Congress assembled last
week, We're cheerful and busy despite the
blizzard and SHOWS and rains. The sessions
were well-atlended, and the mothers avow
that the days of their week together in Wash
ington were not lost. While nothing of
great or striking moment was decided, the
papers were on questions of the homes and
schools and streets, all tending to widen ones
view of life, especially rs it concerns chill
dren. These mothers are however, not only
concerned in all these questions of economics.
hygiene, science, and philosophy, for the
benefit of their own little ones, but also for
the children of the poor, for the helpless little
ones whose lives are darkened by the shadow
of affliction and for those who arc burdened
with the weight Of evil inhcs 9 and envi-
ronment-the children ofthe & ..iral classes
The mother spirit bfoods over all these
and would give to the children of unhappi-
ness some Of the sunshine that she strives
Tor for her own. SO there were lectures on
biology, lectures ON home, public school, and
charity kindergartens, lectures on personal
and municipal hygiene, on soup kitchens
versus the saloons. on literature for the little
folks, and on many topics of life that come
up to the mother for decision, and that she
decides more or less inielligently. They de-
vote themselves to the study Of giving
children the best things in life. and to the
art Of relieving the drudgery OF home keep
ing, and making ii "a glorious privilege rather
ti,an the burden that so many good women
find it. 5
Washington sometimes gets sadly mixed
with all of its wOmea from everywhere con-
vening here for almost every possible pur-
pose. Not only are the Mothers here. but
the Daughters and Children of the Revolu-
ton are carrying on their annual conventions.
the National 6ouncbis holding forth on every
possible subject, and the SuffIagistS, who
begin their Council next week, are coming in
advance. All the associations are exchang-
ing conrtesies, and Susan B. Anthony runs
over to the Daughters Anna b. Shaw has a
tiff in the National Council of Women. and
Miss Janet Richards, who is the Daughters
Official Reader, argues with the Mothers in
their meeting The National Council OF
Women has been having the liveliest time OF
all. They met in the blizzard, one woman
saying it cost her 50. SC to get there in a
milk-eart, but she hoped to make a dicker
with delivery boy to take her back again
.or 81. Some women walked two miles in
The binding snow to attend, and said they'd
not come across the continent to be baked
ny hie'e DiiALdIu, anu ohce lhere tney one
and all spoke their minds with entire freedom.
Anna B. Shaw stoutly affirmed that
mothers were good enough. but to be
just a woman was greater still. The Rev
erend Anna B. Shaw is spinster, and
knows whereof she speaks. They had
sharp war over the presidency, and another
hot time over Mr.. Roberts of Utah, whom
they succeeded in censuring, despite the
strong delegation of Utah ladies some OF
them wives OF the first, second, and remoter
degrees, who favored. or at least were silent
about, the new Representative They also
discussed the Cars Disarmament proposal,
and finally decided to encourage him with
a resolution of sympathy, though there was
considerable opposition. Altogether there
was much clashing of arms in the Council
ELSIE PoMERoY MCELRoY.