The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-04-01
COMBINE SUFFRAGE
AND AGRICULTURE.
Mrs. Belmont to Teach Wom-
en- to Become Farmers
Gives Estate.

New York. April Suffrage and
agriculture are to be combined in
new way by one of the leaders in the
votes for women" cause. Mrs. Oil
yer H. T. Belmont. announced recent
1y that early in the spring. she will
open school Of agriculture for wo-
men. Two hundred acres OF land OPP
posite her country estate Brockhoist.
at Hampstead, Long island. have been
sci aside for experimental work. and
Mrs. Belmont hopes TO give young
girls and woman "A new and interest
ing way Of earning "A living which will
at the same time make them stronger.
healthier and happier citizens than
when working in shops or offices.
This idea OF teaching young women
TO till the soil and make it earn a liv-
lihood for them has been long in Mrs.
Belmont's mind. She said yesterday
that for at least two years she has
been planning the agricultural school
but not until recently had she been
able to perfect its plans.
There are many women wage ear
ners today who enter the already ov-
cause they have neither the incentive
nor the opportunity 10 learn more
remuenrative occupation" Mrs. Boil
mont sail in explaining the schools
motive.
THE shirtwaist makers strike last
year In New York and the garment
workers strike in Chicago this year
revealed working conditions fearful
TO contemplate. While these young
girls have been passing the best years
OF their lives in sweatshops, over
crowded workrooms and unsanitary
tenements. and being paid less than
n living wage for their work. our rich
soil has been. spasmodically titled by
nomadic tramps staying at one farm
just long enough to work their way
TO the next town to spend the money
they have earned"
On Mrs. Belmont's estate great
deal OF gardening is done. and she
declared II was partly on account of
the inexperienced and unreliable men
on whom she was forced to depend for
the cultivation OF fruit and vegetables
that she had determined to give as
many women as possible an opportun-
ity TO compete in this work and show
that women can equal. perhaps sur
pass. men as farmers and gardeners.
Brockhurst is near enough New
Work to make 1t a splendid supply sta
pn for the great city markets, and
= Belmont hopes to have within a
Years little garden plots. scientif-
cultivated. laid out on Long is
the owners or tillers thereof.
" hopes will be suffragists.
< their share to the New
cts, receiving in return "A
"There is Va general impression in
rhe CITY," added Mrs Belmont. that
women can not do farm work. though
the farmer declares that his wife and
daughters are his best and most relia-
bic helpers. This statement has been
proved by the few women who are
today managing and working farms.
Il want some of those pallid check
ed. hard worked girls in the factories
and shops to give up their city work
and try farming | hope to show them
that ia; ming may be made more prof.
stable ihan factory work. that it will
be muoM plcasanter to do. and that
girls, will grow strong. robust and rosy
checked after "A few weeks of garden
work. These girls will be better cit.
izens, better mothers and better help
meets il they exchange their firing
city toll for outdoor work which will
be pleasant as well as supporting.
There will be matron on the
farm. Mrs. Williams has already
been chosen for this position. She is
q splendid. motherly woman. who will
make for the home life and recreation
OF the place. She will teach the girls
cooking. housekeeping and home max.
ing.
Quaker Woman at Head.
"A Quaker woman will be at the
head OF the agricultural school. She
IL u woman from Pennsylvania whom
] have known some time and who has
shown herself to be capable of filling
this position.
AT first the girls will have half or
quarter acres OF the Brockhurst es-
tate set aside for them, and they will
begin ut once TO plant seeds. cultivate
the soil and study scientific farming