The Irish standard., 1905-05-06
WOMENS CLUBS.

his power to prove that the life of an
eX-president need not be dull and un-
eventful. His contribution to recent
issue OF popular magazine upon the
question of women's clubs has drawn
forth comment and assault sufficient
to interest most anyone. The great
majority OF everyday men and women
who read the eX-president's strong but
ponderous statements no doubt viewed
them with satisfaction and as an ex.
preston OF their own views. Not So
however, the New Woman; the leader
of clubs for the furtherance of wom-
ems suffrage or for the reform of this
thing or that, who spends her time
away from home and who is able to
see her husband occasionally between
social functions, is up in arms against
Grover. Fortunately the number of
such women is so insignificant as to
scarcely need attention. Women will
continue to be women notwithstanding
the gyrations of the new woman. 1t
is fortunate that the words of the ex-
president do not apply to very many.
The women to whom he refers as
rule have nothing to do except to
satisfy their own appetites for excite.
ment. If they have anything to do
they neglect those duties which should
nc.t D.,
heart. Nurses take charge of the lit
tie ones, ii there are any, which is
seldom the case with such women,
and the husbands, if they have such
useless encumbrances, spend the even
ings down town. Most of the male
portion of humanity will thoroughly
agree with Mr.. Cleveland in his defini-
ton OF good woman as "one who
loves her husband and her country
with no desire to run either" and we
will further concur with the ex-presi,
dent in saying that it would be a bless
ed thing If every mother and every
other woman, whether mother, wife,
spinster or maid, who either violently
demands or wildly desires for women
a greater share in the direction of
public affairs could realize the ever
lasting truth that 1.-The hand that rocks
the cradle is the hand that rules the
world" The difficulty with these mis-.
directed movements is that the wom-
en- engaged in them do not rule their
husbands and as a consequence have
no part in ruling the country, and they
are altogether too busy to rock the
cradle. That woman suffrage has no
appreciable effect one way or the 9th.
er upon public life is demonstrated by
those sections of the country where
women vote. Women vote in Colorado
and that state has been for years the
most disreputable In political crimes
of all kinds. The investigation carried
on in the recent contest over the gov
ernorsllip disclosed the fact that wom-
ems clubs were formidable factors in
the debauchery of the ballot in the
city of Denver. We by no means
ascribe lower level to the political
morals of woman than to those of man,
but we do insist that the words of the
poet are true. las the husband Is the
wife is. Thou art mated to a clown,
| and the grossness of his nature will
have weight to bear thee down." And,
we do insist that women by turn
ing their attention to those things
| heretofore left to man is by force COM
PEELED to neglect those duties for
| which she is peculiarly fitted, and
where she has always exercised her
great power for good. BY turning her
attention to public life she is brought
into competition with man, and that
in a way where it is impossible for
her to use her peculiar powers for
good. Instead Of bettering politics by
her associations she herself Is debased
by these associations. She has de.
serted the only place where she Is able
to exercise potent influence upon
the present generation and directing
power over the next, the home. 1t
may not be quite fashionable and pos,
sibly not strictly up to date to enter.
tain these old-fashioned ideas, never
theless. we believe that the ex-presi'
dent expressed the feelings Of nearly
every sensible woman. II am per
suaded," he says, that there are WON
ems. clubs whose objects and intenta
lare not only harmful but harmful In q
way that truly menaces the integrity