The National tribune., 1908-12-24

members OF Inc present Captnet I6Vor
woman's suffrage, and that Mr.. Balfour
q An open champion Of their cause, yet
new Organizations opposed to the
movement are constantly being formed,
and the suffragettes themselves by con-
tinuing their extraordinary actions lose
that public sympathy and support
which they undoubtedly would gain If
their campaign were conducted, on
more dignified and pacific lines. Just
the other evening two Of the ''shrieking
sisterhood'' donned evening gowns and
went to the house Of Mr.. Benson, who
was giving political reception TO Mr..
AsQufth, the Prime Minister. This
distinguished gentleman Is the special
bette noir Of these militant ledies NON ac-
count Of his opposition to the cause
they represent, and they have done
what they could to make life miserable
for him for 10 these many months.
They nave made several unsuccessful
attempts to get directly at Mr.. As
quith, and hearing about this evening
reception In his honor determined to
be numbered among the guests. So
they presented themselves at the Ben
son mansion in their pretty low-cut
gown. covered by handsome evening
wraps, and were admitted by the SER
wants without suspicion, naturally.
Mrs. Benson. who had no personal
acquaintance with many OF those pres
snt, received these ladies with the per-
funetory handshake. and they mingled
with the crowd, searching for their
prey, Gr. Asquith. Presently they spied
him. 6nd the younger and best looking
- the ladies, a sister, by the way, of
Miss Christobsl Pankhurst, the hand
some young suffragette who has been
called q second Portia, approached the
Prime Minister and taking him by the
hand led him into the middle of the
room and began her little speech. Mr.
Asquith gently attempted to release his
band and get away. but the lady held
him firmly while she reoited magma
Sharta." and Mrs. Benson, taking in
constable arrived, and the two ladies
were politely escorted from the rooms
and shown 70 the door. This event
created q tremendous excitement In
$ondon, for an Englishraan's home is
bis castle, and any invasion Of II an
slant. It Is such actionB as this that
fstard 20 seriously the progress Of the
movement, and which the saner, more
polite Of the suffragettes sincerely de-
plore. There Is very deep and pro-
found sympathy with the eauee Of
woman's rights in England among all
CLASSES, for II IL felt that the laws OF
the land are In many respects very
unjust to women. For instance, q man
may die and leave every penny Of his
fortune to his next door neighbor, IL hs
Wishes to, and the law un1lolds his ac-
tion. Even II he dies without making
viii the law does not give his prop
tho II she happens to have any money
Of her own and dies intestate he gets
Il. A woman may q faithful, hard
working wife thru a long period Of
married life. yet her husband may die
leaving her without penny and entire
q fr ny>f<-
the charity of others for support And
what seems even more unjust than this
10 the law allowing a man to take and
use any little sum his wife may have
saved by self-denial and strict econo-
my out of the money allowed her by
him for housekeeping and personal OK
psnses It II impossible for an Engl1sh
married woman to have any money of
her own, unless It Is money which was
Given to her by or inherited from her
own family, and even this the law gives
TO her husband at her death unless she
disposes OF It by q will made when uis-
Questionably Of Sound mind" and in
full possession Of her senses.
With all thie talk about germs" and
''bacilH." with conventions held 70
saS BE- gu. rs Il ass asssss ssros sas ns
SSion were given to the question Of deli.
&a3e. disesae-disposed young girls and
&nen marrying those OF no more physi-
"a strength and health than them-
selves: This sort Of thing goes on cop
ssmDed su sas unl Il psssss { ssoppsd sah pes
feot health IL perhaps the greatest
asset q wife oau bring her husband. No
Non1an can be expected to possess all
the desirable qualifications Tor a per-
{ectiy satisfactory wife. nor is any con-
4ition here. below entirely ideal, but
U1n 6oa
strength Is Usually 2miable and sensi-
Bile. and the happiness OF O home is
pretty secyra built upon such founda-
ton. II II surprising that 20 many
young men, city bred and not over Wig
erous. with nothing but their salaries
wife some rather delicate city girl
Nhose knowledge Of the practical
thinss 81 NE Is very small at best, but
whose knowledge OF the different ways
enoney can be spent Is prodiGious, In
stead Of going to the country for the
woman who is TO play suoh an irnpor-
tent part Ia the failure or success Of
ffe The girls one snds in the country
nowadays are charming. They are
pretty and as well-mannered as any
city Girh, indeed to many their man.
hers are better because they are more
simple and more truly polite. These
1irs know what It is to get UP in the.
tnorninE and cook breakfast for a
large family. The pretty white dress
they arSear in at the country picnic
they not only made themselves. but
washed, stafched and ironed with
their own nor tnfrequently pretty
hands Waste and extravaganza are
unknown to them, and altho they make
frequent visits upon city friends and
relatives, the influence of the country
life remains with them, keeping their
tastes and desires simple, their ideals
tnbroken, and their visws upon matri-
raony and the duties of good wife
vastly different from those Of most Of
their city-brew sisters.
There u hardly q adult who would
GOT be glad to have the whole idea Of
Christmas giving put On q new and
different basis, yet who has not the
courage to break away from the con-
ventonalities and 60 goes on doing
year after year the things which com
tnoh-senee, the better judgment, and
even Christianity whispers are all
wrong and ss far removed from the
true spirit Of Christmas as the North
Pole ID from the South. This beautiful
holiday season, with Its holy signifl-
eenoe, which should be welcomed with
10Y and gladness, is too frequently
looked forward to with actual dread.
It brings to q great number OF people
only an unpleasant sense Of obligation,
Q shrinking from the mental and pfys.-
cal fatigue attendant upon Christmas
shopping, Snd an unwillingnees to
give up so much OF their valuable time
to this.
Evan fhe woman of a wal. .hlIed