The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1906-05-19

THE CHILD, HUMANITY's PIVOT.
BY Lucinda 3. Chandler. SsS
Social conditions at present are the
results Of experiments, and these have
been fragmentary. Social science as
conceived has been but dismerh-
bered skeleton. '#~ - 1@F@ -
| A basic principle, or correlated prtn-
ciples that could result ultimately in
a harmonious organization Of the var
1ous activities and supplying the needs
Of humanity, physical, ethical and
moral, has not been the chief endeav-
or of the students, teachers, preachers,
writer's and the leading mental forces
of the social body.
| While occasionally the result Of an
aspiring, consecrated, conscientious
motherhood have proved the possibil
tiles of human nobility and grandeur,
| the prevailing idea of human nature as
weak, groveling and supremely selfish
has benumbed the higher capacities
and aspirations.
The doctrine of total deprayity has
| doubtless Kindred mans moral devel-
opment, attainment and knowledge of
human possibilities more than any
| other idea or influence. The terror that
man was made perfect and fell from
his high estate has blinded him to
+ the mighty truth that the perfection Of
humanhood is to be achieved through
parenthood and social order.
/ Parenthood is creative agency not
only to clothe living spirit with a
| f1eshly form but to evolve the higher
quality of mentality and dispirituality.
The sense of responsibility of parent
hood has been so dim and vague, in
| regard especially to the preparation
for it's anti-natal endowment, that the
value Of the human being has been
overshadowed and submerged by the
! value of material possessions and in
| terests.
The only justiflable and ennobbling
and lperfecting Of human powers and
| faculties. Far above the greatness
and strength of people to increase
| wealth and carry forward the tri-
| umphs of invention Is the greatness
| and strength of the wisdom and bene-
| ficence that will tend to minimize the
weak and disordered, either physically,
mentally or morally, of it's members.
For this all social conditions and in
stitutions should be ordered to pro-
| mote the well being of a child. All
| that relates to marriage and parent
hood can bring good results to the in
divfdual and to- the community only as
1t secures the best conditions for the
child. We are proud of our schools
| and institutions Of learning, but men
tai equipment and acumen, if directing
| only sordid selfish purposes, surely in
| crease the elements of degeneracy.
The preservation, progress and true
greatness of people is not in num-
bers or wealth, but in it's quality of
| manhood and womanhood. The only
real protection of people is the in
! tegrity and loyalty Of the individual
to the welfare of each and all. The
highest wisdom of a people is to Sc
cure for every child the best con-
| dition-first, for it's ushering into ex-
| istence, into the mortal struggle, and
| then for its health and development
| mentally and morally.
More than any other calamity to be
avoided is an unwilling ignorant and
ill-mated parenthood. Up from the
groveling, sordid idea of material
prosperity, the accommodations of pos
sessions as the: purpose; and aim of
| life; far above the idea that national
greatness and glory is the ability,
equipment and means to conquer an
| enemy, or control a weaker people,
the'~need to rise to the altitude of
! seeking to bring into existence and to
| train for the future a more complete
| and ncbie manhood and womanhood.
The child must become the center
| around whom all social and educa-
tional forces and institutions must be
organized and operated. The children,
ny hundreds of thousands in this land
Of abundant resources are found in
| the tread,nillI of toll instead of receiv-
ing opportunity for physical and men
tai embodiment and vigor is a menace
both shocking and humiliating.
Commercial insanity and the ethics
of greed, not childless marriages or
divcrt;s. Threaten us with race sui
eide. The youth whose life forces have
been diverted from normal function III
! normal development, and the youth,
who for lack of early instruction
wastes these mental forces in sensual
qualification, are a serious danger to
the future. The girl and the mother
OF babes chained to the treadmill Of
toll with no relaxation and overtaxed
in vitality, are making sure the re-
! suit Of degeneracy and destruction. A
people possessing the intelligence and
abundant natural resources of our
| country cannot be exempt from re-
s, o1,sibility and guilt in permitting an
economic system that robs the child of
necessary conditions for development
to continue.
SHOULD WOMEN RETIRE AT FORTYs
BY Anita D. Dart. 49,.
The period Of mems usefulness to the
world, has been fixed, according to
DR.. William Osler, to end at the age Of
forty years, and he has inferred that
at the age Of go a man should be chic