The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-10-19

mond and Virginia was attended by
representative women OF the fedora
ton and IL number of visitors and
CARNATIONS OF the city in the mothers
room In the old Richmond High
school yesterday afternoon. The pres,-
dent, Mrs. n. l.. Whitlock, made a
brief address, devoted to an cSplana-
tion OF the SPECIFIC purposes OF the
conference. one OF which was to call
attention to the fact that the work
or mothers, clubs had departed from
their original aims and purposes. and
must be brought back to the starting
point, and kept in the straight path
hereafter. Beginning in the kinder
gartens. with mothers meetings de-
voted TO child study. they had de-
veloped into organized clubs. reach
ing out to and calling upon mothers
of children OF all ages. and in most
cases had promptly degcnerated into
business organizations for the pur-
pose OF doing such utilitarian work
me- identifying school grounds, supply
ing nction and reference libraries and
pictures for school buildings. etc,
frequently losing sight of the needs
of the mothers for definite study and
training in tho physical. mental and
moral phases OF child culture to meet
the conditions OF present dag life.
Address by Mrs. schoH.
Mrs. Whltlock then Introduced Mrs.
Frederick SchoH of Philadelphia,
president of the National Congress OF
Mothers. who seconded Mrs. Whit
locks remarks. dwelling on the needs
OF intoxicating ideals during the I'M
questionable period OF the child's life,
such as should tend TO the nrodue-
ton of a future citizenship properly
balanced. both in tho practical and
the Ideal. II is uphill work said Mrs
Schon. 10 convince parents that they
need instruction in child training.
Seyenty-nve per cent. OF them, when
they are approached by educators ano
child-welfare workers, particularly u
the workers are unmarried. show thelr
!ng.ained and inherited belief tha'
what IS known az the parental IN
st!nct" is Si-suficicnt. Trey are 20
ignorant tina they do not realize tnelF
ignorance. They are In bitter need oil
the %tabulated statistics which modern
methods of work have prepared In
great abundance to prove existing
needs and conditions. and also the most
effective ways to combat obstacles TO
moral and physical cleanliness. sys-
TEN, hygiene. etc, the responsioility
for which should lie at least a. much
upon the home as on the school ana
the church.
Too much responsibility. she said,
has been shifted By the parents upon
Sunday schools and day schools. INC
real. vital responsibility lies in the
home. and can never he successfully
shifted therefrom. ITO reach the well
fare OF the child. to conserve the ma
t!on's greatest asset. i,s children, then.
we must reach the mothers said ME-.
Sc!ioff. THE fathers are too busy with
other things. with the material side
of life. in most instances. and 1t lies
with the mothers to upbuld ana
strengthen the ideal. This is a rel!-
sious work. and can never be success
fully accomplished In any otner than
a religious spirit"
Mrs. Schon spoke Of the beginning
OF her own intercs: IN this work.
Z originating in her attendance upon :;
mothers congress some fifteen years
ago. at which she had received great
assistance and inspiration In meeting
her own personal problems in ctlild
training, her attention was furtaer at
tracted and centred a few years later
by reading the case Of a girl of eight
being tried in . criminal court for
arson. and sentenced to a reform
school. where some 500 girls. OF all
ages and grades of immortality. were
confined.
Cause Of Great Work.
The child was regarded as an in
corrigible criminal. and her horror at
learning that there was no proper pro-
vision for handling such cases sepa-
rately from those of hardened offend
ers caused Mrs. Sonoff TO devote her
self to altering sucn conditions. Sug-
gested by a mother the work has been
accomplished by mothers. and now
such an occurrence as cited Is iinpos-
sible in PENNSYLVANIA. The work Of
the Mothers Congress, said It's presi-
dent. is to combat the idea OF the sufl-
cheney OF the maternal instinct. TO In
culcate the idea of the responsibility
of the home in the protection of chill
dren from physical. mental and moral
anger the necessity OF study and
the correlation of effort to this end,
I The Richmond federation is now the
\ National of Mothers for The
State OF Virginia. Mrs. Schof hoped
\ that the work as begun might go on
and spread out taroush the state. Tho
work is exceedingly far-reaching and
important. Everything affecting child
welfare is germane to 1t, even includ-
ing ihe rood roads movement.
Mrs. Schof bespoke the interest OF
Richmond's mothers in meetings to be
held here in November by Mrs. De Gar.
mo. the chairman of the good roads
4 committee of the Mothers Congress
/ who is working in cooperation with
/ the national government. which is
4 sending her to hold meetings in ter
States. showing the relation of this
work to child-welfare. Good road
between the home. the schooi and the
church are essential points to obtain
in the conservation Of the childhood
OF the rural districts-the feeders OF
the cities and the source 81 the strength
l and stamina of our civilization.
An Informal discussion succeeded
I Mrs. schon's address, and was In turr
followed by a reception. at which the
mothers served refreshments gen.
/ eral sociability was promoted.
N AE.o d4A-He L. Hor ria 49, ,nAo