The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1906-07-24
BY MARGARET e. sANGsrER.

BY MARGARET L. sANGSTER.
The public spirit of women in this
country is evidenced in a manner
rather different from that displayed
by women in some other countries. In
England, for instance, intelligent
women are intensely interested in
their government and in everything
that concerns the national politics.
Except in the heated months that
with us precede a presidential cleo
ton, women know little and care less
about the machinery of state and ma
honal politics, taking merely per-
functory interest in legislative bodies,
and holding themselves aloof from
matters discussed therein.
Ii Is not uncommon to meet a wom-
an of more than ordinary culture who
does not happen to know who is the
governor of her state, and who is the
representative at the state capitol, of
her home district. She is aware that
there is somebody who represents her
section IN the senate and assembly,
but she has never taken the trouble to
acquaint herself with his name. AS
for knowing what the preponderance
of sentiment in the legislative bodies
nearest her may be, she is profoundly
ignorant and altogether Indifferent.
In party politics she is apt with
very languid enthusiasm to endorse
the views of the men of her family.
Should she visit Washington part of
morning would be spent in watching
the very disorderly proceedings in the
house or the more dignified demeanor
usual in the senate chamber. But this
would be to her simply portion of
the show and, unless she had per-
sonal reason for talking with her con-
gresham, she would not even recog-
nize him on the avenue.
Public spirit is at low ebb in the
great majority of women in this
broad land, so far as it's manifestation
has to do with the ballot box and
what the ballot box stands for. Our
sons are the losers here; they grow
up without due appreciation of their
privileges, as voters, and with dis
dain for politics that is a poor omen
for the future. Unless wives and
mothers are patriotic from principle,
they will not infuse patriotism into
the current of home life.
Women are not. however, altogether
deficient in public spirit, as it in
cludes some practical phrases; for ex-
ample, they like to take a hand in
what may be styled Clown House
keeping" When you visit a particu-
larly attractive village or town, where
the fences are in good repair, or
where fences being obsolete, lawns are
separated only by driveways; when
there is an absence of loose papers
and rubbish on the streets and things
in general are tidied up, you may be
sure that women have bestirred them
selves in that locality. Municipal af-
fairs appeal to women, in contrast to
the larger affairs of the county or the
state. The same attention to detail
and careful economy that make a
woman notable in the thrifty man
agement of home, make her prudent
and vigilant in managing a town. She
abhoY Sirt and confusion, and has a
rsssssa,.ancs for places that are we'll
a,ooyned ~ painted, and in fine
array and nice .
"A town in whic6~.a committee OF
women supervises the liWN PARKS ana
bits of, common and then hlluren S
is apt to have a&oouly
show of flowers in summer and tn pe
kept free from ice and slush in VIZ
ter. Women are willing to spend|
and take time and pains
to keep the burrough or the hamlet or
the city ward where they reside, in a
shape of which they are not ashamed.
In many cities there are Health Pro-
tective associations maintained by
capable and efficient women, who de-
scend to various minute supervisions
that raise the health rate of the entire
community. These supervisions re-
late to garbage and its removal
promptly from households. to the dis
Infection of premises where there
have been contagious diseases, in
(which effort they support and supple
at local boards of health, and to
Asanitary condition of the more
quarters of the town. Not
ptly such associations render
unpopular by the radical
.their methods, and by
rNiSIi to invoke legal
may OCCASION
occasional
kring beyond
do vast
ed a
: club,