Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-29
What Pubic Spirited
Women May Accomplish
BY MARGARET f. sANGSTER.

Copyright 1906, by Joseph b. BOwles.)
"T HE public spirit OF women in this
country is evidenced in a manner
rather different from that display
ed by women in some other countries. In
l11ngland for instance intelligent women
are intensely interested In their govern
'ment and in everything that concerns the
national politics Except in the heated
imonths that with us precede presidential
election, women know little and care less
tabout the machinery OF state and national
politics, taking merely a perfunctory in
terest in legislative bodies. and holding
Themselves aloof from matters discussed
therein.
1t is not uncommon to meet a woman 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 repre-
sents her section in the senate and assem-
bly,. but she has never taken the trouble to
acqualnt herself with his name. As for
knowing what the preponderance of senti-
'ment in the legislative bodies nearest her
may be- she Is profoundly ignorant and al
together Indifferent
In party politics she is apt with very Ian
guild enthusiasm to indorse the views of the
men Of her family. Should she visit Wash
1ngton part of a morning would be spent in
watching the very disorderly proces dings in
the House or the more dignified Gemeanor
usual IN the Senate chamber. Bat this
would be to her simply a portion of the
SHOW, and unless she had a personal rea-
son for talking with her congressman she
would not even recognize him on the
avenue.
Public spirit is at low ebb in the great
majority of women in this broad land so
iar as its manifestation has to do with the
ballot box and what the ballot box stands
Tor. our sons the losers here; they
grow up without due appreciation of their
privileges, as voters, and with a disdain
FOR politics that is poor omen for the fll-
ture. Unless wives and mothers are patri-
ptlc from principle. they viii not infuse pa
triotism into the current of home life
Women are not. however. altogether de-
fcient in public spirit. as it includes some
practical phrases; for ex imp,e, they like to
fake hand in what may he styled Town
Housekeeping" When you visit a particu-
larry attractive village or town. where the
fences are in good repair. or where fences
being obsolete, lawns are separated only by
drivewIys. when there IS an absence OF
loose papers ana rubbish on the streets and
filings in general are tidied up, you may be
sure that women have bestirred themselves
In that locality. Municipal affairs appeal
TO women. in contrast to the larger affairs
of the county or the state. The same at
tentiOn to detail and careful economy that
make woman notable in the thrifty man
Rgement Of a home make her prudent and
vgilant in managing a town. She abhors
dirt and confusion, and has preference
for places that are wei groomed well
painted and in fire array and nice order.
\ town In which d committee of women
supervises the little parks and bits OF COM
mon and the children's Fairgrounds j. apt
to have a goodly show of flowers in sum-
mer and to be kept free from ice and slush
in winter Women are willing 10 spend
themselves and take time and pains to keep
the borough 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 prOtec
tive associations maintained by capable and
efficient women, who descend 90 various
minute supervisors that raise the health
rate of the entire community. These super
visions relate to garbage and its removal
promptly from households, to the disnfec-
tiou of premises where there have been
foutaeious disease, in which effort they sup
port and supplement local boards of health
and go the sanitary condition OF the more
crowded quarters of the town. Not intre-