Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1911-05-11
WOMEN AND WEALTH. OR
DO WE LIVE TOO FAST

y. Lawrence L<aughlln, IN ScrlDners
1t 10 needless to say that a change
pas come over the face of our economic
Me. There are, of course, vast numbers
THO are today poor or in very moderate
circumstances. but 1t is known of all
that with the enormous increase in
wealth. q come the creation of a very
arge lecture class composed of the rich
ma the very rich. This is the most
si6nltlcant fact of this generation. The
miles Of comfortable or even handsome
houses in every large city, the thou-
lands of automobiles on the streets,
are only q few OF the obvious evidences
u the wide distribution of riches. The
ERECT OF this economic phenomenon
Upon American women is a matter Of
the highest import, a study of the first
magnitude. 1t touches the very heart
u our social life, n makes for good
Or Tor III on a great scale In our imrne-
aiate future. This is the test, as has
been said, which Il large body Of
American women are undergoing-the
greatest test to which human nature
Fan be subjected-the test of pros
perfty riches. How are they COM
ting out of 1t?
we may be too close to the events
20 perceive the true causes at work;
ana perhaps we may not sufficiently
discriminate between h evil and the
GOOD sides Of the transitional move
ment now before u eyes. We realize
however, that American men are quite
TOO good-natured, and leave American
women too much to themselves with
IN unlimited purse; otherwise we
mould not see the startling things done
~ ~audacious women, living in Paris.
Mhile their providers r absorbed in
:neir business ventures at home.
Moreover, life has become much more
complicated and distracting: SO many
crore things have to be known, con-
nderod, decided upon, that the unbal-
Snce0, unframed mind reels In confu-
SION. and neurasthenia gathers in it's
eeion Of victims. There is. to be sure,
= greater rush for education, but it is
? question whether 1t is accompanied
~ a gain Of ideals. There may be more
education, but 1t Is possible that 1t has
pa with lower ideals of duty to
3tnefs. This matter Of dropping ideals,
however. may be only a consequence
y another sweeping current of change
moving alongside the swelling tide OF
diminishing strength Of re-
nelon. There is no use shutting
eyee 70 It; 1t is here. Religious dogma
40 longer has the influence upon our
:Onduct-and man. Of us, looking to
tne future, are wondering what is COM
Ing to take its place.
whether we like them or not we must
lace the facts about us. The charac-
SAA0 u Type OI ITCH
women have changed from those of an
eariicr generation. and the consequent
ce9 which are already noticeable can
not DO blinked. The 20 called indie
pendence Of womenkind-the greater
Individuality. 1t may be-shows its un-
desirable side as a widespread self
du!gence and selfishness. Among the
richer classes. the general unwillingness
70 do. or even to hear of, anything UNI
pleasant. Is SO marked as to be a COM
mon characteristic. This phenomenon
OF today. however, is only the explains
9 OF a well-known economic gener-
altzatfon In regard to the family. 1t
has icne been observed that The birth
rate diminfshes as the scale Of riches
With the growth Of wealth we
must BE- prepared to expect-what is
now evident about us-fewer children
ana . weakening of family ties. AS
much as possible, nothing will be al
lowed to interfere with the pursuit OF
qualifications. The growth of
.eelf1shness, under the name Of greater
freedom, the avoidance Of tasks and
hArdships,. the desire for new and fire.
d0ens excttements. the personal de-
Hight IN %notoriety. have in undue nea-
sure drewn the attention OF such wom-