The Washington times., 1905-03-14
PRESIDENT TALKS
on MARRIED LIFE
Tells of High and Holy
Duties of Women.
CONDEMNS CHIL0LESS HOME
Thoughtful Address Delivered Before
National Congress of Mothers
Now In Session Here.


President Roosevelt delivered an adj
dress before. the. National Congress of
Mothers last nigf1ts in which he dwelt
on family life He showed how it must
be normal anu healthful if the results
are satisfactory and adequate He de
clared that the welfare Of the state de-
ponds absolutely on whether the average
family. the average man and woman
and their children, represent the kind OF
citizenship fit for the foundation of a
great nation Home life must be healthy,
man must be honest and hard working
and woman must De a good wife and
mother if the race was TO increase and
the nation thrive.
The President repeated his adjurations
against race suicide, and urged on
mothers the proper rearing of children
for the performance of the public and
private duties which will tall on them
lie declared easy divorce the bane of
any nation. an evil thing for men, ana
still more hideous evil for women
Speech of President.
The President said:
IN our modern industrial civiliza-
ton there are many ard grave dangers
TO eounterbalance the SplendoTs and the
triumphs
1t not a S0Ou InInS 10 ste Sit4So
grow at dispFoportionate speed relative
ly to the country: for the small land
owners, the men who own their little
homes, and therefore TO d very large eN-
tent the men who till farms, the men
of the SOIL have hitherto made the toun-
dation of lasting national lie IN every
state; and, if the foundation becomes
either too weak or too narrow. the SD
Derst ructtTrte5 no matter how attractive,
Is IL imminent danger OF falling
Family Life Important.
But far more important than the
question of the occupation of our cit
liens is the question of how their family
life is conducted Ne matter what tha'
occupation may be, as long as there Is
q real home and as long as those who
make up that home do their duty to one
another. TO their neighbors and TO tt1t
state, tits of minor consequence wheIn '5
the mans trade is piled IN the country
or the city, whether 1t calls Tor the WoIF
OF the hands or for the work OF tii'
head :,
there IS no real home, If the family i
not ofsthe right kind; il the man IS no
a good husband and father II he IS bFu
tai or cGwaFdly or selfish. II the woman
has lost her sense of duty, II she Is SUM
in vapid self-indulgepce or has let he
nature be twisted so that she prefers
sterile pseudo-inteliectuallty 10 ina
eereaTsand beautiful DEVELOPMENT Of lctszfr
acter which comes only 10 those Who's
lives know the fuIlness Of duty don,
effort made and self-sacrifice undergone
Foundation OF State.
I'm the last analysis the welfare of Tia
state, depends absolutely upon w;lethe
or not the average family, the avera
man and woman and their children
represent the kind of citizenship fit fo
the foundation OF a great nation; and
We fail to appreciate this we fail TO al
preciate the root morality upon whie
all healthy civilization is based.
NO piled-up wealth, no splendor
material growth, no brilliance OF artist
development, viii permanently avail ar
people unless its home life is health
unless the average man possesses hone
fy. courage, common sense. and decenc
unless he works hard and is willing