The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-01-29
KEY ID WOMAN'S GENERAL CONFINEMENT Good Breakfast Exert Marked
 Influence Over Men
SAYS A WISE WOMAN
Mrs. A. E. Stevenson Champions Do- nestle Science-Wife of Ex-Vice President Gives Wholesome
 Advice to Sisters

who formed a small historic coterie that has on several occasions held pleasant conferences. Mrs. Levi P. Morton was her immediate predecessor, and Mrs. Garret A. Hobart her immediate successor Then came the ephemerial reign of Mrs. Theodore Roosevelt as second lady of the land, and then the brilliant one of Mrs. Charles Warren Fairbanks. Mrs. James Schoolcraft sherman, who Is still occupying the throne, as 1t were, Is not included nlthis coterie of ex-chatelaines, yet following the pleasant custom es- tablished years ago, the present vice. presidential lady always makes the visit ing one a guest to whom special defer ence is paid.
 Tt is my belief" remarked Mrs. Stew enson, that our keenest joys come in remembering and not in realizing things that we hoped. So T tell all my friends now enjoying the privilege of official so- cial functions in Washington to keep scrapbook. I have one. big, bulky vol ume, which would be a blot on the land scape in well-appointed library, but which I count among my genuine treas ures.
 "A few leaves of scrapbook are like the magician's wand. They translate me 
 greet me and I recall pleasant little in cidents or funny ones. or even sometimes those which did not seem either pleasant or funny at the time, but which have lost their importance with the years.
 old Books Are Best
 ..Another joy which I find increasing as time goes on is my love of the old books Very few of the new ones make any appeal It may be that the alleged new problems and themes are not inter- esting to me, but I read so little of mod ern literature that I should never pass for progressive in the general woman's clubs
 Another grievance have against the age is how little time most women have to read They skim over a vast amount of iteratuhe, in order to converse intelli- gently about the latest fads in novels. But few have the time, no matter what their inclination, to read and think and ponder as we had in our less strenuous life ofNthirty or more years ago.
 T make no claim to have been ever in any a sense public woman, but take a deep interest in all that concerns the well, fare of the public mind and in woman's duty in promoting it. A favorite subject of mine is the duties of mothers. There's Is the highest obligation which any wom- an can have, and I can imagine no more unnatural and unworthy woman than the one who throws aside this duty to take what appears a wider field of endeavor.
 I've hear much criticism and from many sources of the women whose lives are spent in ease and affiuence and whose selfish indulgence of vanity and love of display lead to wasted life and to childless old age. To them the time will coma when they would give all the riches of this world and all its vain ambitions for the sound of voice that was never heard and for the sustaining and protesting love whose worth they could not comprehend.
 Woman's Possession
 "I see a great future when every wom- an realizes that no such Joy comes in life as that which comes in the possession of husband, home and children. That is the mission and those who fail of 1t through their own fault may be pitied. but should still be classed under the head of fail ure.
 1T am deeply concerned in those clubs formed by women which look into the questions which concern childhood and whose inspection and supervision has led to the amendment of the child labor law and to industrial conditions generally Those who made the public aware Of the menace in abusing children have done "a noble deed. They are aiding the na- ton to have stronger and more TO- lust race in future by looking after the child of the present
 "Still my sentiments on the phase of the child question Is well known, and this is that the nation needs quality and not quantity I was one of those who took issue with former President Roosevelt in urging this delicate theme before the pub lie for general discussion. In the urgent appeal which he made I do not recall one word from it's advocates on the abili- ty of heeparents morally, spiritually or k, Co txy nf nhi dren. do not believe in taking an in- temperate view of any sacred obligation and I should like to see our publicists touch on the elevation of all conditions necessary to rear children, who will be happy. useful citizens and add to the prosperity of the nation.
 Mission of the Club Woman
 q am not a club woman as the term goes,' said Mrs. Stevenson, "but belong to number of clubs and I think they have a splendid mission which should in no way conflict with their home duties I take an affectionate interest in our woman's club in Bloomington. and also in the federation of clubs which has uni fled feminine interests throughout the country.
 "I see in the clubs a fine opportunity for solving the real issue. For instance, I think that many a brave, strong, we'll
  for lack of a well prepared breakfast Our women's clubs as rule are not try ing to read the riddles of the universe. We are caring for the little needs of ev- eryday life.
 All the big clubs nowadays have do- nlestic science committees, and they are really benefactors Domestic science Is cnly the proper knowledge of food and its preparation, how and what gives strength and bone and muscle and what causes their depletion. In plainN language Il means knowing how and what to cook for the three inevitable meals Q day which civilized man requires. How to make them appealing as well as nutri- cious is one thing. Especially breakfast. which in our mode of living Is the most important one.
 'I have told my daughters and all in whom I am interested that good, nu- tritious breakfast for the busy man goes far in keeping him in good trim from every standpoint. It goes without saying that believe in every woman. no mat ter what her station in life, being con celned in the ways of her household'
 Mrs. Stevenson personally realizes the tyne of the high-born American aristo- crat. Her birth and breeding are mani fest in the soft, gentle voice. in the gra- cious manner and her dainty and at- tractive appearance. She was before her marriage Letitia Green, the daughter of Dr. Lewis Walker Green, president of the Presbyterian college at Phelps, Ky. It was while the former vice president was a student of her fathers that the two first met. se
 The marriage has been locally happy,