The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1905-03-16
PRESIDENT TO MOTHERS
Addresses National Congress in Ses-
sion at Washington.
HOME LIFE MUST Re HEALTHY


Bringing Up a Family Of Small
Children and Touches On Race
Suicide.
Washington. March l4.-An address
by President Roosevelt was the Tea
iure OF the session OF the NatiOna
Congress OF Mothers. now holding IT,
triennial convention at the Metropoli
tan NJ. T.. Church. Anticipating The
presidents appearance. there was al
immense crowd at the church, com
posed largely OF women The presiden
was formally introduced to the al
dience BY Mrs. Frederick Schon, o
Philadelphia the president OF the con
gress
Among other things, the presiden
said.
In our modern Industrial ciyiliza
ton there are many and grave dan
gers 10 counterbalance the splendor'
and the triumphs II is not good thlnl
70 see cities grow at disproportionat'
speed relatively 10 the country, Iol
the small land owners, the men VINO
own their little homes, and Therefore
to very large extent the men who
till farms. the men OF the soil. have
hitherto made the foundation OF last
ing national life in every state, and
n the foundation becomes either toe
weak or too narrow. the superstruc
ture. no matter how attractive, is II
imminent danger of falling
NO piled-up wealth, no splendor Of
material growth. no brilliance 81
artistic development. will permanently
avail any people unless its home life
IS healthy. unless the average MAI
possesses honesty. courage. common
sense and decency. unless he works
hard and is willing at need TO nigh
hard. and unless the average woman
is a good wife. good mother. able
and willing TO perform the first and
greatest duty Of womanhood. able and
willing 10 bear. and TO bring mp as
they should be brought up, healthy
children. sound in body mind and
character. and numerous enough Sc
that the race shall increase and moi
decrease.
mo ordinary work done by mar
is either as hard or as responsible as
the work OF woman who is bringing
up family OF small children, for
upon her time and strength demands
are made not only every hour Of the
day. but often every hour Of the night
She may have to get up night after
night 10 take care Of sick child and
yet must by day continue to do all her
household duties as well; and II the
family means are scant she must
usually enjoy even her rare holidays
taking her whole brood OF children
with her The birth pangs make all
men the debtors oil all women. Above
all our sympathy and regard are due
to the struggling wives among those
whom Abraham Lincoln called the
plain people and whom he so loved
and trusted: for the lives OF these
women are often led - the lonely
heights Of self-sacrhcing heroism.
Just as the happlest and most hon
orable and most useful task that can
be set any man is TO earn enough for
the support Of his wife and family, for
the bringing up and starting in life of
his children. so the most important
the most honorable and desirable task
which can be set any woman is to be
a good and wise mother in a home
marked by self-respect and mutual for
bearance. by willingness 10 perform
duty. and By refusal to sink into self.
indulgence or avoid that which entails
effort and selfsacrihce.
Into the woman's keeping Is com
mitted the destiny Of the generations
to come after us Some children will
90 wrong in spite OF the best train.
ing: and some will go right even who
their surroundings are most unfortu
nate: nevertheless an immense
amount depends upon the family
training.
IF the average family in which
there are children contained but two
children the nation as a whole would
decrease in population so rapidly that
in two or three generations 1t would
very deservedly be on the point OF eI-
tinction. so that the people who had
acted on this base and selfish doctrine
would be giving place to others with
Drawer and more robust ideals. Nor
would such a result be in any way
regrettable; for a race that practiced
such doctrine-that is. a race that
practiced race suicide-would thereby
conclusiyely show that il was unfit TO
exist. and that 1t had better give place
to people who had not forgotten the
primary laws Of their being
THE womans task is not easy-no
task worth doing is easy-but in doing
II. and when she has done it. there
shall come to her the highest and
hottest joy known to mankind; and
having done it, she shall have the re-
ward prophesed in Scripture; for her
husband and her children. yes, and all
people who realize that her work lies
at the foundation of all national hap
piness and greatness. shall rise up and
call her blessed
Booker Washington Calls On Carnegie
New York, March 14.-BOoker I.
Washington called upon Andrew Car
negie In COMPANY with Bishop Gin