Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-05-29
THE MOTHERS
An Interesting and Instructive
Session at Des.Moines.
ATTENDANCE INCREASES
"ldeal Education" Discussed by Col
onel Francis Parker. of Chicago
Question of Woman SUI.
rage to Come Up.

Des Moines, May 25.-The sessions
of the National Congress of Mothers
yesterday drew the largest crowd of
the week. The large auditorium was
packed to the doors and it was neces-
sary to hold an overflow meeting in
the, Y. NJ. c. A. auditorium which was
also crowded.
The feature of the session was an
address by Colonel Francis Parker,
OF Chicago, on Ideal EDUCATION
There are two ideals in education. ,.
ne said, one, the getting of knowledge,
the other, character, expressed in terms
OF citizenship, or community life. Col.
Farker maintained the present system
OF education and the sacrifices Of the
former Tor the latter, that the former
ldeal OF education comes from the mid
ole ages, the latter brings out the best
IN the individual, inasmuch as it makes
character and citizenship the aim Of
all education. The study of history
ana nature are particularly valuable
Tor the child mind, furnishing ideals
OF conduct and inspiration from won
dertul facts of nature, while the pre-
cepts OF goodness and abstract state
ments about God would have little eff
fect. The study of nature fills the
child with reference and inspiration.
Yesterday afternoon Mrs. Fannie
humphreys Gaffney spoke on the SIN
fuence of Womanhood,' showing that
woman is today great factor in civ
1lizatlQn, and that she must use her
great power wisely and with modera-
ton.
lmmaculate WomanhoOd.D
Prof. Mary Robert Smith, of Leland
Stamford university, in an address on
immaculate Womanhood,'' said the
colleges of today were trying to un-
Sex women and develop other than
Womanly qualities, that a college edu-
: cation. fails to emphasize the three
paramount things which all women
should be taught-obedienc love of
work, and the recognition of woman's
duties to her fellow men; that it
should not fail to teach women that
their primary fupction in lite was
motherhood.
AT the business meeting an amend
ment to the constitution was made
changing the basis of representation
to some extent, and giving larger
clubs better representation. The com
mittee on resolutions hereafter will be
named by the state president and the
state chairman will be appointed by
the national president.
AS to Woman Suffrage.
An attempt will probably be made
{ today to get an expression regarding
woman's suffrage. Mrs. Birney, presi-
dent of the congress; Mrs. Belding,
president of the Iowa Equal Suffrage
association, and the resolutions com
mittee, are strongly opposed to bring
ing the matter up. 1t is understood
outside pressure has been brought to
have the action taken. The opposi-
ton is caused by a feeling that action
or discussion might mar the con-
gress.
The Working Women.
Des Moines, May 26.-Mrs. I. w. Ak
In, chairman of the social economics
committee of the Des Moines Women's
club, in presenting the program before
recent meeting said that the com
mittee appeared before the club with
no flying flags or waving palms or po-
sing men, but with a few plain, practi-
cal, live facts worthy the clubs atten-
ton. At the biennial of the General
Federation of Women's clubs two
years ago resolutions We're adopted
looking to a better acquaintance with
the industrial conditions of women
and children. A national committee
for Investigation was appointed and it