Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1905-08-18
It is Progress, and Upward.

3
Bodie, Superintendent OF Compulsory
Education in Chicago. before the
international Association of Factory
Inspectors, Tuesday, said:
society is dying ont the top. 1t
is a crystal maze of glass houses, where
no occupant dares cast the first stone
the dangerous example; the academy oi
divorce. Society has mothers who are
slaves To the siren calls OF fashion and
! frvOlity, who look more often into
their mirrors than into the faces oi their
children. With fashionable mother
s:id,iing ahont 1T social functions and a
fashionable father at his club, the re-
suit will be that within a decade the
question OF the neglected children of the
rich Will become as great social prob
lem rs that OF the neglected children OF
the poor.
There is much truth in this state.
ment, although it may not be general
in its application. The absurd, not to
say idio,ic antics of the fashionable set,
at times reported in reputable city
papers, in New York and at the wa.
tering places, give force to Mr.. Bodine's
structures. Mankind are initiative
and if parents, in the child's eyes, can
do no wrong, what will be the future
conduct OF offspring whose parents give
monkey" "horse" and "dog" par.
ties; who wade in public fountains, on
a wager; who walk on the public street
Oman and woman) swinging a doll
baby between them, and who climb
into church through the coal-hole to
be present at wedding to which they
had not been invited2
The NEGLECTED children of the
poor" have far better chance to work
their way to useful independence,
than the idle, pampered, dissipated
sons and daughters of the wealthy,
who, not being taught how to make
and spend money, will stand a poor
chance OF saving it unless it be through
the guardianship of others. Take the
President of the Equitable, for in.
stance. What has he to show for that
common sense which is the unbought
heritage of the poor? What will be
his condition, when his last dollar is
spent-as it is soon likely to be-and
he is thrown upon his own resources?
How much better it would be we're
woman to fit herself for some position
other than to be tn" slave OF fashion,!
How much better to take q part in the
business activities that build up towns,
cities, states and nations, instead OF
gadding about at social functions"
How much better to engage in reputa.
bic and honest endeavor, than to dau.
die away the time in luxurious ease in
glass houses, where no occupant dares
cast stone"l 1t may be, as Mr.. Bo.
Bodine says, that while in 1890 there
were 3.9l4.5l1 women employed in
gainful occupations in this country
and that in 1900 the number had in.
creased to 5,329. S07; and if so, it is q
good sign of progress. If it serves to
eliminate or suppress the effete vota.
ries of fashion, the butterflies who
pose as aristocrats in the social realm,
may heaven speed the day when the
equality of the sexes may be recog.
nized in all the walks of life.
Give women something sensible "a
think about, to talk about, and the
ambition will soon follow to do her
part we'll. Give her An equal chance
to earn an honest livelihood; make il
fashionable to be sensible, and see h ow
soon her brother man, instead of com.
placently tolerating her foibles, will be
Boosting of her opinions and achieve.
ments. Political equality was accord.
ed women in this State . short time
while in Territorial condition, long
enough to demonstrate its utility and
wisdom, and the women were fast be.
becoming Independent and self.reliant
when scheme, planned by the under.
crust, through . subservient court,
deprived her of the privilege that was
fast placing her on an Independent
plane.
PRESIDENT David r. Francis of the
st. Louis Exposition, has arrived at