Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-01-05
Savage women's Influence.

Woman has much to do with the ameli-
Grafton of manners even among savages.
We know at least that what is meant by
a mothers love is by no means unappre-
ciated by the. African people. Among the
negro tribes especially the mother Is
loved far more than the father. and the
greatest affront says MunSo farh, wnici.
can be offered to IL negro is to reflect on
her who gave him birth. west African
proverb is: "a mothers love Is best OF
all" DR.. Livingstone also remarks that
| auong the non-Bechuana tribes of south
central Africa children cieave to the moth
er In case of separation between the par
ents }or removal from one part of the
country to another. 1t Is quite different
with the Bechuanas, who care nothing
for their mothers. but cling to their faith
ers. especially If there is IA chance of heir
ship to their cattle. This selfish impetus
to filial affection Is observed SO common
ly among peoples as to be almost regarded
as human nature. WomanS part III the
refining of the races has been to awaken
moral perception and eliminate to a GER
tain degree the selfish motive, says the
Chicago Tribune.
This difference of feeling in relation to
parents agrees with the IDEAS entertain
ed as to woman in general. the northern
tribes paying much more respect to her
than those of the south The mother
doubtless has greater influence for good
over her son than his wife possesses,
although in the latter case it is sometimes
by no means slight. Thus among the
Kaffirs women not only manage to have
their own way in the choice OF a nus
band, but even after marriage. II the wife
happens to possess an intellect supe-
rior to that of her husband. she will some
times gain a thorough ascendancy over
him guiding him in all his transactions.
whether of peac,, or war. Although
among uncultur2d peoples womans in
fiuence is too often exercised rather for
evil than 70. good, yet 1t cannot be
doubted that to the sympathy springing
from the maternal instinct must be traced
much of the benevolent action OF more
cultured peoples. Nor is 1t difficult to
ascertain the stages of such develop
ment. The maternal instinct differs from
tn, instinct in which originates the sense
of right in that, while the latter Las reia-
ton primarily to self. the former Is d.
-ected toward some one else. The feel
ing to which the exercise of the maternal
instinct gives rise is personal. but the
simple emotion becomes sympathy only
when 1t is drawn out toward another
BY the side of the early family repre-
scented by the mother originated the SIM
pla brotherhood In which the savage
sought to satisfy his self-interest while
gratifying his feelings of sympathy.
May not eating together by the bride
and brideg DOM. which often forms one
of the marriage rites be looked upon as
a kind of brotherhood" enga cement?
When once the virtue CT hospitality has
been exercised. special relation is Gre
ated between the: entertainer and his
guest Thus the stranger who eats
bread and salt with a Bedouin at once
secures most powerful defender against
the perils of theS desert. All the Arabs
of the same tribe regard him as a fellow
countryman and brother. The eating
of bread and salt together thus operates
as an oath of friendship. and constitutes
bond of fraternity of the most endu--
ing kind, We find that the family rela-
tions are set forth In the Homeric legends
as the grand sources of lasting union and
devoted attachment. The paternal au-
thority is highly reverenced; the son who
lives to years of maturity repays by af
fe ction to his parents the charge of his
maintenance in infancy, which the lam
guage notes by a special word. -.