The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-04-22
THE CAUSE OF WOMAN.
WOMEN ASKED TO CLEAN AND
BEAUTIFY RICHMOND'S STREETS.

Women Increasing In Namber. and to Be
Reckoned with Politicsly-A Letter From
the Father of Seven Daughters.
The Richmond Na) Times contained an
editorial, n lev days ago, urging the women OF
that city to take up the question Of public clsanli.
ness and public ton. II said:
We commend II to the Woman's Club OF Richmond,
which Is one OF the most lntelli zen, and en- ~trrptsing
organizations In the city. We do not say this In any
spirit Of battery. The Woman's Club Is composed
OF representative women OF tho city. and when they
meet together once a week they do not spend their
time 10 Idle talk. but Ia discussing questions of public
concern II seems 10 Us that the Woman's Club
could do no greater work than 10 inaugurate a move
ment In The interest Of public cleanliness and public
ornamentation.
Is the editor Of the Times ready TO grant women
The necessary power ~ do this important work.
or does he like m any OF his brethren, want them
TO attempt II with one hand tied behind their
back? Men have made asgreat a ness Of mu-
nicipal housekeeping as they would have done
OF the domestic branch il they had taken charge
Of IL A woman il considered perfectly com
petent " keep her own dooryard clean. but not,
under any circumstances COMPETENT 10 ex tend
her jurisdiction 10 the other side Of the fence She
has for ages made her own garden blossom like
the rose. but never has she been permitted to
exercise this power for crea ting beauty beyond
her own gatsposts, Men alone have taken
the responsibility VI making clean and beauti
full our towns and cities, and these, in all parts
Of the country. are testifyin n how faithfully this
trust has been performed. Now a few. like the
Richmond editor ARE casting about for a remedy,
and they turn, where men are very apt " turn
In time Of trouble and p-rpleyity, 10 the women
Of their household and community. All al once
/, has dawned upon them that possibly these
women may know more about these things than
they do, and that, relieved as they are nova
days from many Of the former household tasks,
they may have more leisure TO consider these
matters than men. who must continue as Of old
In the breadwinning drudgery, So IN many
localities the cry Is going out 10 women TO
come 10 the rescue OF the munich pal hoLsekeep
ing which at present is n national disgrace,
But Is this appeal accompanied by the Offer
10 ClOthe them with the needful authority; To
give them tbs power Of helping elect the officers
who administer the municipal laws; 10 fill GER
tain Of these Offices themselves, II need be;
to handle the necessary funds; 10 be. IN short,
a factor in the government Of this city When
the services Of women are needed they are then
in a position 10 make terms, and that time Is a-
preaching in the municipalities at least Women
should be very slow about organizing them
selves into street cleaning and tree planting
brigades while men alone hold the city purse
Strings, draw the official salaries, and exercise su-
preme control Although It should be- a duty
and a pleasure for women 10 share the burdens,
yet they should break themselves II the habit
Of working without pay and without authority
II Virginia makes a new Constitution, as she
talks II doing, We shall expect the EDITOR OF The
Richmond Times 10 advocate a clause IN II CAV
Ing municipal suffrage 10 women.
This edi,onal makes another strong point when
II says The members Of the v oman club do not
spend their lime in idle talk but In discussing
questions Of public concern There is Il vide gun
between the church sewing circle 81 a genera l"n
or two ago and the wOmdnS club OF L. day Dur
ing the transition stage between the two. The
women, who were Just beginning 10 Try their men
tai wings, plunged wildly into ancient history,
metaphysics and various subjects which would
appal the savantS A good many Of them are sui
laundering in these depths, but in almost every
community now are found organi7ations OF women
studying the live, practical questions Of the day
and utilizing the results Of their study as far as
they are permitted, II must be- remen bered,
however, that not In the smallest particular can
women influence municipal affairs, the manage
ment OF the schools. the cleanliness of the streets,
the beauufying ~ the city, the condition If lGiIs,
alrshouses aud other public institutions, except
by permission Of men. While one might suppose
the after would welcome The co operation Of women
In what surely is as much their sphere Us mans,
the reverse Is true. and In all the past years their
assistance has been Scurniully declined II ~
only of recent date that they have received the
slightest recognition, and even this, Tor the most
part, because they have rUwdsd themselves In
and begged for IT,
Ia all parts Of the country the women clubs and
councils Are making a careful study Il poiica!
economy, municipal government, public school
questions sanitary measures, the cause, treat.
Inent and prevention Of pauperism and crime,
all matters In fact that stand for civilization and
progress The Association Of Collegiate Alumns,
our most highly educated body 81 women, have
OF drainage, ventilation and sanitation generally,
preparing, q most valuable collection OF scientific
data, While the various organizations OF women
are thus engaged, an army Of younger ones are
preparing themselves to be such a power in tho
future as the world has not yet seen. In Ibis ad
Council at Cleveland, Ohio, President 1hWirg,
Of " estern Reserve University, said
AS a result Of the much larger percentage on
girls than boys yearly being graduated from the
the educated classes OF the community. II IS not
a lar step from this 10 bring ont their responsibility
a. factors In the life Of the new century. II il 10
be woman's century AZ we'll a. mans, by reason
ot her vel. trained mental power"
1t is estimated that there are 10000 women in
with the number Increasing 50 RAPIDLY that al
Stanford [ University q limitation has been placed
upon il, and similar action threatened atthi'agn
This highly educated element Will have 10 te
ignorant, and while the duties Of the home claimed
all their time and energy, II was not dificult 10
keen them In q subordinate place; but with trained
and developed minds, the household tasks largely
eliminated, ambition and independence aw akentd
il becomes absolutely necessary 10 provide new
will answer for some; others will enter the various
business occupations: bat q certain portion will