The Washington herald., 1910-04-17


II isnot only in England that suffragette
populations are not warmly welcomed by
those In power. Queen Helena OF Italy
resolutely declined TO receive a body Of
Italian women recently who wished 10
interest her in their agitation. She IS
reported 20 have declared her unqualified
opposition 20 any movement Of that kind
saying: Politics inspires in me nothing
but dislike. Since woman has but one
mission on earth-love-women seeking
TO associate themselves with politics can
not be good mothers and daughters" II
seems that the Vatican and Quirinal at
least agree on this one question.
Both the German Emperor and HIS
Empress are opposed to the feminist
movement, and so is every other monarch
on the continent. Matters stand different
ly in France. however. where the wom-
ans rights woman is having her innings
It IS reported from the gay capital on
the Seine that Ella Wheeler Wilcox has
written THE Battle Hymn OF Women"
and has thereby stirred the women Of the
French capital into a frenzy and fury OF
their rights"
It is not permitted 20 quote the poem.
which has stirred up the women Of
France, where IL has been read in the
famous Lyceum Club. of which the
Duchess dues is president. Margaret
Durand. the feminine leader OF France.
said: 1T is the Marseillaise OF woman
hood" The poem has gone like wild
fire through the English-American colo
MES in Paris. The first line is: They
are waking, waking. waking in the East
and IN the West" There is not a woman
in the social set Of Paris who Is not
able to repeat It. Mrs. Wilcox has IN
questionaby given an impulse TO the
feminist movement. which. il Is claimed
will lead TO extraordinary results. unless
these fair Parisiennes change their minds
before morning, which should not sur
prise a bit.
The French woman comes nearer IN
her Ideas Of equality with man than her
American sister. They are talking about
serving in the army over there. Listen,
A bill was introduced In the French leg
islature not long ago by NJ Messimy
which will force women TO serve in the
army. NJ. Messimy pointed out that
France will either have 10 call its women
20 arms or forever give up all hopes OF
recovering the provinces Of Alsace-Lor-
raine, lost TO Germany in the war OF
1901.
In an article published IN a Paris paper
the deputy shows that at the present
rate Of decrease Of population France
will In the course Of the next fifteen
years lose thirty-seven or thirty-eight
regiments by the diminution Of the male
population available for service NJ. Mes
sings plan is heartily Endorsed by Nine.
Madeline Pelletur. a doctor OF medicine
and prominent feminine leader. who even
goes as far as to say that the women OF
France are not only willing to. but will
demand. herself TO be allowed to serve
in the army.
She herself thinks that every able
woman should serve two years. and feels
confident that this military training will
develop the mothers Of the future gen
Grafton and ultimately result in an in
crease In the birth rate of strong and
healthy children. The idea Of feminine
conscription. she says. was suggested 70
her by men attending her lectures. "Tf
you want to vote. why don't you serve
IN the army as we do?" When an inter-
viewer asked her how one could expect