Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-10-16
A True Memorial to War Women
To the Editor of The Star:


have noted with great. interest the
proposal of the Military Order Of the
Loyal Legion of New York city that a
hitting memorial should be erected to the
memory OF the women of the civil war,
and also the favorable comments of the
press of the country on this suggestion.
On every hand we have statues and mon
uments concentrating the valor OF the
noble men who offered their lives for
their country. am glad that the sur
viVing heroes wish to have d fitting me-
mortal to the woman behind the gun.
Not only was she active in the hospital.
but in almost every hamlet in our great
country. both north and south; the women
prepared the supplies needed in the hos
pitals and on the battlefield In 1851
supplies. like lint and bandages, could
not be purchased in great Quantities.
even II there had been government funds
for such use, which there was not.
Then in the home. when the father.
husband and son went to the front, the
woman: perforce, became the bread-win-
ner. supplementtng as best she could the
paltry Sl2 month which the private
soldiers received. Sometimes she labored
in the field. sometimes at the washtuh
and sometimes in the schoolroom, but
all the time she was doing her work and
a mans. too. most proudly. She would
find time to write to her soldier at the
front the words that cheered him amid
the discomforts of camp life and the dan
gers Of picket duty and the march This
is the story of 1SS1-1S64, both north and
south.
Duty makes opportunity. Opportunity
develops those that seize it. From the
civil war dates the development of the
women of this country. She had great
responsibilities. and she was thrust out
to battle for herself and her children
without the protecting arm OF a man.
She has never gone back to the old con-
dttfons, and never will. Industrial and
social conditions have changed and wom-
to prepare for life.
Here In Washington there are many
universities and colleges for men of the
white race. but none that TO all its de-
partments admits women equally and
fully. There Is today no medical school
for white women, and vet the woman
physician is one of the most useful and
highly respected Of our citizens.
2. There are other professions in which
women should have the same opportunity.
The greatest memorial to the women OF
the civil war would be q great uni
versity here at the capital giving equal
educational opportunities for women and
men; but the faculty. must be composed
OF both men and women eminently fitted
for such positions. On the occasions in
the past when women have been admitted
to mems colleges there has been no pro-
vision for the changed conditions, or any
proper RECOGNITION Of the woman. Worn-
an is not the same as man, but she Is
his equal in every way. In addition she
has been endowed by her Creator with
the divine possibility OF motherhood and
In this day and generation at the Ma
tional Capital she should have the oppor-
tunity to prepare herself for her highest
and largest use. Let US have a lasting
memorial to the women Of the civil war
In Washington in the form Of . great
university for women and men.