Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-10-01
NATURAL SUFFRAGETTES

THOSE devoted suffragettes who claim in
L behalf of their cherished theories that
feminine leadership is "old as the hills and
quite as natural" are now receiving unex-
pected confirmation and support. No longer
need they depend alone upon Deborah of
Israel, the Greek AmazonS, and that far
famed Polynesian tribe in which the women
rule with such signal success, for illustrative
examples. From strange and distant regions
of the earth, as from all the living kingdoms
thereof bird beast, and nsect,-come IT,
dings of gynecratic governments, remarkable
as effective, at once wide reaching and unique.
Ernest Thompson-Seton, for instance, in
his wonderful new work, "Life Histories of
Northern Animals" is authority for the
statement that there are successful suffra
gettes among the elk of the Wapiti herd.
@The individual in that herd" says the
distinguished naturalist, "who can impress
on the others that he is the wise one, the safe
Numberless observations show that this
wise one is not the big bull, but almost in
variably an elderly female. She is the one
that has impressed the others with the idea
that she is safe to follow,-that she will lead
them into no foot traps; that she knows the
best pastures and the best ways to them;
that she has learned the salt ticks and the
watering places that are safe and open to all
around; that her eyes and ears are keen;
and that she will take good care of herself
and incidentally of the band. This female
leadership" he says further, "is common to
almost if not all horned ruminants."
The same authority declares, moreover,
that not only suffragism but occasional
celibacy is a recognized institution among
the high wild animals. "Old maids" and
"old bachelors" he finds quite common; the
"old bachelors" usually being distinguished
by their uncertain temper while the "old
maid" is set apart by her "fne condition" no
| less than by her freedom from maternal cares.
Suffrage Among the Ants
| AMONG the ants, acknowledged the wisest
and most progressive of insects, feminine
government has always prevailed. Henry
c. McCook, who probably knows more about
ants than anyone else in the world, says that
all ant governments are gynarchies, the rulers
and workers alike belonging to the "petticoat
persuasion the masculine ants apparently
| being regarded as mere curled and scented
darlings, supported by the admiring females
| in idleness and luxury. The eminent myr-
mecologist, whose emmett classic, "Ant
Communities" makes the tiny, industrious
ant seem indeed a marvellous creature, finds
| that no civilizations, human or animal, are
So well governed dS THOSE WHOSE STUDY the
"Wisest Man" recommended to his son.
Ants, says Mr.. McCook, form vast ma
tons, which may be regarded as powerful
confederacies and empires. They main
tain standing armies, police forces and other
protective organizations. They are expert
engineers, horticulturists, and farmers, fenc-
ing in and milking large flocks of the green
aphis, famous for the precious honey dew.
They not only stand ready at all times and
seasons to protect their own, but frequently
carry the war into the enemies country
with vengeance, not to say with Napoleon
ic ingenuity and cleverness. And all this
wonderful work is carried on by woman ants,
working under the direction of woman lead
ers, the only blot upon the escutcheon of the
formican suffragist being her humanlike in
ability to cope with the problem of domestic
service. Because of this inability, the ant
armies raid neighboring ant kingdoms,
carry off large numbers of prisoners, and re-
tain them in perpetual bondage. 1t is not
known, however, whether these slaves are
i'll or well treated, nor by what methods they
are kept from showing fight.
Mosquitoes Are Up to Date
A MOTHER highly successful suffragist of