New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-01-30
TRUE MOTHERHOOD.
Woman's Sphere Defined by Mrs.
Gilman and Mrs. He1Cltt.

Holding I'D 10 her audience as ideal a family
Of FIVE or six children. who have dentist for
father and a physician for mother, Mrs. Char
lotte Perkins Gilman maintained yesterday be
fore the women's conference Of the Society for
Ethical Culture that all young women should
aim to be self-supporting, for only when eco
nomicalIy independent would they choose the
best men TO be the fathers Of their children or
cease TO be sold into marriage. She told then
they shouldn't plume themselves on being moth
ers-any bird or animal or fish could be a moth
er-but they should try TO pull themselves up
out OF their state % bondage and he real human
beings not mere females And they were not
TO suppose that mothers took the best care Of
their children, either Ask the teacher and
physician" Women, she urged. must abandon
the position that motherhood is a sufficient re-
turn to the race for what they are getting out
Of it. and must claim their share in all human
functions such as teaching. the law and the
ministry. Her explanation that in motherhood
she didn't urge any great radical change was
greeted with laughter.
An anxious audience IN Boston thought
wanted them to throw Up their domestic re-
sponsibilites and 20 out as stenographers,"
she said But I told them. Just inform your
selves and bring up your daughters to work
Mrs. Edward Hewitt was the first woman in
the audience TO attempt to breast the tide Of
Mrs Gilmau's arguments.
I'm an old-fashioned woman" she said
glancing almost appealingly at the speaker Of
the afternoon, but / must say don't see if a
woman is going to he the mother Of five or six
children how she can do much else. And if any
mother can be a mother and not be a teacher at
the same time I'd like TO know it, CApplauseD
! know there isn't teacher who doesn't think
Il the greatest mistake a child ever made to have
mother. The teachers are continually finding
fault with the parents"
While the roomful Of women was laughing at
that Mrs Hewitt went on to criticise the
women's colleges. I don't know how many col
lege women there are here" glancing around as
II 10 detect them on the spot. I'm one and I
don't think much Of IT, The womens colleges
don't seem 10 have found the balance between
development Of the viii and intelectualization.
] came out of college paralyzed at the Iargeness
q all the things 10 be done. All schools for
women seem 10 train the critical spirit rather
than the Judgment or the productive ability"
men Mrs. Anna Garlin Spencer got up.
90 believe every woman. ike every man
bhould learn 10 90 something il the world but
mat something need not necessarily be a service
lot when me world would now pay. Let the
rlch, who have had their wages paid in advance
a. II were, DO SOMETHING that isn't paid for, but
Ihat VIII hasten the development Of the race
Let them do the pioneer, formative service"
Mrs Spencer struck responsive chord in the
breast Of every mother when she continued soft
ana dresses her baby but not d mother who
would willingly lose the memory Of that exquis-
lie experience out Of her life. AS for earning
ones own living who works harder or longer
than the housenother2" she asked.
women VIII never compete equal terms
with men," she declared. positively, but If the
time ever came when they did, il would be detri-
mental 10 the child
I didn't say anything about women competing
on equal terms with men," corrected Mrs. Gil
man when II came time 70 close the debate.
We're not expected 10.
Another thing. Don't imagine all you give
70 your child Is motherhood. The negress with
fourteen children, the Turkish woman in the
harem is Just as much a mother as you What
you do give that they don't is American citizen
ship And one thing more-Jo be mother
Doesn't mean 10 sit right down to st. If A
woman" she argued. uIum phantly can spend
Fourteen hours q day IN homework and not find
u incompatible with motherhood. she can surely
spend four or five hours a day I'm q milliner's
shop
Not competition with men and remuneration
OF motherhood lies before US. but DEVELOPMENT
Of motherhood and companiOnship with man"