The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1906-07-28

011USo3 A3IIaA8o AoWuy AopIo'0u
School systsms, and vital Prison
REFORMS Are Results Of Their En-
forts-Ihsir Protest Against Food
Adultsration.
BY MARGARET E. sANGsTER
The public spirit of women in this
country Is evidenced In 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 presidential. cleo
ton, women know little and care less
about the machinery Of state and ma
tional politics, taking merely q per-
functory interest in legislative bodies,
and holding themselves aloof from
matters discussed therein.
1t 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
AoPA ecNAS0NASO ~ @AS 0NNt0 S&YAAOIs VI
her home district. She II aware that
there II 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 il profoundly
ignorant and altogether Indifferent
In party politics she il apt, with
very langutd enthusiasm to endorse
the views Of the men Of her family.
morning would be spent In watching
the very disorderly proceedings in the
house or the more dignifled demeanor
usual In the senate chamber. But this
would be to her simply a 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 IL at low ebb In the
great majority Of women In this
broad land. 10 far a. Its 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
daiIL for politics that is . poor omen
for the f.ture. Unless wives and
mothers are patriotic from principle.
they will mot infuss patriotism into
ths current Of home life. y +
w.
women are not. however. altogether
deficient in public spirit. az It In
cludes some practical phrases; for ex-
ample, they like to take hand In
what may be styled Town House,
keeping" When you visit partica-
larry attractive village or town, where
the fences are in good repair, or
where fences being obsolete. lawns are
separated only by driveways: when
there lis 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 vigilaut In managing q town. Che
abhors dirt and confusion, and has .
preference for places that are we'll
groomed. well painted. and in nne
array and nice order.
A town in which COMMITTEES OF
women supervises the little parks and
bits of common and the children's
Fairgrounds. II apt to have Soodly
show Of flowers In summer and to be
kept free from ice and slush in win
ter. Women are willing to spend
themselves and take time and pains
to keep the burrough or the hamlet or
the city ward where they reside, In q
shape Of which they are not ashamed.
In many cities there are Health Pro-
tective associations maintained by
capable and enicient women. who de-
scend to various minute supervisions
that raise the health rate OF the entire
community. These supervisions ~
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
ment local boards Of health. and to
the sanitary condition OF the more
crowded quarters Of the town. Not
infreQuently such associations render
themselves unpopular by the radical
character of their methods. and by
their determination to invoke legal
remedies when people refuse to keep
their homes and surroundings decent.
Although the members may OCCASION
ally be over-energetic and OCCASIONAL
ly may seem To be interfering beyond
their province, yet they do a vast
amount Of good. and they are only
extending the sphere Of the home,
mother and mistress. to the wider
-