New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-11-07
RAP WOMAN SUFFRAGE.
Lyman abbott and Ida TarbeU See
No Reason for 1t.

Both the Rev. Lyman Abbott and Miss Ida NJ.
TarbeN took pains to define their position the
woman question Saturday the hundred and
fifty or more Mount Holyoke College alumne who
attended the annual luncheon of the New-York
Association at the Fifth Avenue Hotel DR.. Abbott
elso paid his respects TO Mrs Charlotte Perkins
Gilman. gently, courteously. but in terms that
the instant applause of HIS hearers.
Dr. Abbott had begun his address where every
Mount Holyoke address always does begin-with
Mary Lyon and had been dwelling on her progress
Eiveness. her womanlness and her deep piety.
IF Mount Holyoke alumna would carry her
work they must not only think she thought
fifty years ago. but they must think as she would
have thought at the dawn Of the twentieth
century, DR.. Abbott continued. They must not
he frightened at new things-even the theol-
ogy." "A stir went through the alurnna) IT don't
ray they should accept the new criticism; indeed,
II would be pretty hard TO say just what the new
criticism is. but they must have the audacity Of
faith. have always said that whatever was safe
for IS safe for women, and safer, too, because
OF the tenperamental conservatism Of women. Men
would hardly he satisfied to go to college and
concern themselves only with the old forms Of
theology"
Then Dr. Abbott turned TO the woman question.
IF st IS hard tell what the criticism is
harder still 10 tell what the is he
said And the women laughed.
II don't say you should accept the woman
but don't be afraid OF her. Personally am weary
OF having write articles on womens sphere
! IN waiting Tor some bright woman to Write
article mans sphere. Qaughter.)
Women having proved their intellectual equality
with men, the question arises. What is the best
equipment for women-the best education. the most
womany? Every in a while the theory pops
I'D that women must show their equality by doing
the things men. l won't say whether
should vote study biology. etc. but I will
say that they should do none Of these things simply
because men do them They have their own stand
ard
Then DR.. Abbott turned TO woman in the home
4 ind 4 woman whose writings have attained
certain popularity says that have made
failures of housekeeping and child raising and she
advocates that we should send our children big
kindergartens. where they can have scientific
bringing up. and that all our housekeeping should
b. done for Us. food being sent by subway ar
rsngemeut from another part of the city, and
The essence. the foundation or life, SAID DR..
Abbott with solemnty is the home, and the
foundation Of the home is the wife and mother.
While ! would not put thing in the way or
she do is in The home. The mother IS greater
than writer. the soldier. the artist. The nrst
writes about life the second protects life. the third
Jortrays life. The home life. Writer, SOL
mother is the creator of life not only by the phys
;ca Of giving birth but by all manner of subtle
moral and emotional influences"
The applause which greeted these words had
scarcely died away when Miss Tarbell. whose sub
5ect Next Tuesday" told the women. in the
course % q bright speech boilers and the Presi-
dental campaign. why she does NOT pine 10 vote.
Not having vote" she said Il find ii great
zeal easier 10 say how I would vote than should
u I could vote And this IS one chief reason why
DO not favor suffrage: II leaves women SO
much freer TO ret at the whole truth Of questions
One OF my ouarrels with American women is that
they don't seem TO realize the possibilities Of power