Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1906-09-01
SHOULD STOP WRANGLlNG
Much Time Wasted in Women's Clubs in
Useless Discussion-What Ella
Wheeler Wilcox Says.

Wheeler Wilcox Says.
Women's clubs have done a great work
in many ways. They have troadened the
nl4-ds of the sex; they have given many
women larger ideals of life than mere
social pleasure or prominence; they have
led to a better understanding OF woman
by woman, and they have helped to elm
mate to degree the petty jealousies
which of old, when woman was merely
the house ornament of man, caused her
to resent another woman's beauty or
charm.
Added to this. clubs have a means of
focused power for the accomplishment
of work for universal good by women.
The real reforms in Philadelphia politi-
cal circles began with the women's clubs.
Therefore it is a misfortune when any
association of women makes itself ridic-
uous or undignificd by quarrels, only
worthy of political circles of men seek
ing not the public good or the advance
ment of the race, but personal place and
power
A noble and worthy society of which
am charter member, meets sometimes
in Washington to elect its national lead
er.
| attended but one of these meetings,
for so strong were the exhibitions of tenn
per and i'll will by members seeking to
advance the interests of their pecial
candidate, that, to preserve my affection
and respect for my sex, necesstated a
prolonged absence from such scenes.
Give me the woods and the solitudes
for enjoyment, rather than the club
rooms of excited women fighting with
frenzy over the election of a president or
over the discussion of a parliamentary
law.
A prominent womans club in New
York is near the condition of the famous
Cats of Kilkenny" for its members
have fought almost to finish, and there
is really no club left worth mentioning.
4 once member writes me:
There are no copies of parliamentary
laws to be found. and the women are
screaming themselves hOarse and fight
ing over club matters, while their homes
cry aloud for attention, and their near
est duties lie neglected"
All this is very pitifUl and shameful
and it makes me sorry for the really
bright and good women who have lost
their heads in such a foolish way, and
are wasting vitality and time to no pur'
pose, save that of lowering their stand
ards as Christian women of culture IL
Americas largest metropolis
how, in the light of the worlds history
the position of even the President of the
United States is unimportant Who
can say offhand. if asked suddenly, thC
names of four governors of Massaehu
sets, New Hampshire. Wisconsin and
Florida?
The election of these men was great
political event at the time, but we have
difficulty to even recall their names now
Then how utterly insignificant is the pc
sitiOn of a president of a woman's clui
or a mans club!
Consider how undignifed and petty
and unreligious is the attitude of a WON
an who loses her temper and descends t.
a quarrel over such q matter
The women of this day have great
work to do.
There is need to conserve all our vita
forces to fill properly the important po
sitions open to dispositions waiting fol-
the worthy and the willing and the com
petent.
We need to inform ourselves regarding
the conditions of working women anC
children in the land. We should study
the subject of right education for chill
dren; an education which will put ar
end to our present unsatisfactory, un
wise and oftentimes pernicious system
of examining all young minds with one
diet, irrespective of taste or ability Il
assimilate it; process as cruel and bar
barous as the stuffing of geese for the
making of pate-de-foie-gras.
Women need to study today as they
have never yet studied. What consti
tutes good motherhood and what is tho
meaning of properly bringing up a
child.
1t does not mean giving the child good
FOOD. good clothes, expensive nurses and
tutors and college education.
1t means studying the child as a dis
tlnct personality, understanding it as q
musician understands his instrument
ana playing upon that immortal instru
ment to make it produce exquisite
music.
a score of times at least l have Xix.
ened child to plant and the parent
TO horticulturist and insisted that the
same methods should apply to both.
1t is gratifying to have the theories Sc
often put forward strengthened and
elaborated by so great a scientist as
Luther Burbank. 1t would be excellent
work for all wOmens clubs TO study
Mr.. Burbank's works and words. and Ia
put his ideas as far as lies in their
power into practice.
The women who are not mothers
should endeavor to help women who arf
10 higher ideals of the responsibility al
motherhood.
Just as the general who stands anar,
and watches the battle. understands
where the strength and where the waaI.
ness in the ranks exists, so the woman
without children often sees and nnder.
stands the science of rearing children het.
ter than the average mother
Every woman has been q dsurhter md
in her own heart knows where ber
parents failed in training her; and this
knowledge entities any woman ON earth
to the privilege of talking understanding
y on the subject of good parentage. espe-
cially if she supplements her experience
with thought and study
To look after the cleanliness and beauty
of the town where she makes her home.
and to 40 all she can to elevate the ideals
of the citizens or the subjects of clean
streets, good ,oads and attractive tree
sheltered avenues is excellent work for
women's clubs.
1t was the continual protest of women
wi IN hn nGf rar7