The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-10-29

 { The reciprocity and educational meeting ,pf the federated clubs this week reelected such credit upon the council that it is I1nfortunate the papers and addresses ',oulG not have been heard by the men of .aiir1ningham, as well as by it's women, lThe afternoon was a treat from a cul- l1uraI standpoint. "The Conservation of laIumanity," that most vital of subjects, l1vas handled In 8 masterly manner; could hhe details of the meeting be published ian full they would go far toward the men, Hal uplift of the community. The most Lnopular subject of discussion perhaps was t1he one presented by Mrs. Richard Fell, %'The Conservation of the Family" A fla lyorite social topic in this year of grace is the discontent which prevails within i1he family circle. Some feel that the Hwhole social structure is becoming under lnined. blame the laxity of the laws, the Freedom which the generosity of the LAmerican man allows his wife. the high cost of living, and scores of other conli- 7ions Others are more optimistic and aevel in the practical normal conditions prevailing today, in the American home, regarding them as the best of all ages. Mrs. Felrs views were most interesting 10 the women who listened to them. She prefaced her remarks with the following huotation:
 From the time that God established the family and sancthed it's unity in the gar den of Eden to the present, in all civilized countries. it's unity has been recognize ed ard more or less practised. And among those peoples where civilization has made most progress and especially where the pure morality of the Christian re- ligion has been felt in moulding the in- ,etitutions and laws, the marriage tie is the strongest ana the unity of the family the most perfect
 Continuing, she suggested that the fife of every family should be a book, bind iHg closely together the destiny of hu- man hearts. and explained that while not offering any new and luminous ideas with which to arrive al solution of the mat ter of conserving the family, she pro- posed to go over the matter together with her hearers, looking at the matter strict 1y from a woman s viewpoint. Some points gathered from her discourse will be read with interest:
 Woman, she said. is the soul of the family. She is the center from which much that is good emanates. and her 1e- votion averts many misfortunes.
 If she had only some set rule for choos- ing husband and after having chosen was permitted to propose, l think per haps there would be fewer marriages of convenience, but thanks to the ingenuity Of women, if the majority of them desire a thing they usually invent some means to carry their point. s%s
 A man wearied with the care of busi- ness can find no rest where pandemonlum ,feigns in that home so often the result iof lifetime effort, that spot on which this mental gaze has for years been riy- sted, dreaming or it as q blessed haven. IA naggins wife should be banlshed to the Fiji islands to spend her savage nr- ture' or to some remote spot where she lcan be tanned. and disobedient and belli- sgerent children relegated to the care of maiden sisters, cousins and aunts, whos- talents it is to train the offspring of derelict mothers. All honor to these relt- tives, their work is one of love. but like mothers-in-idw, who for the first time in history have ceased to be the innocent target of the iokesmith.
 There are women wGo do not ;hiuv the family worth whle but most men are different in this respect They arc scn1ewhat vain and like to see themselves reproduced. yet, at the same time, they generally appreciate children as giving color and warmth to the home. Children usually anchor the mother to some pay- ticular spot and oftentmes prevent sen- sration of parents.
 The brandishing of clubs-modern clubs have caused and quelled many a family disturbance. Clubs of q different charac- ter with which both women and men hon- meet themselves give incalcuable, trou- bic Too many womens clubs in Amer lea have lowered the temperature of the home, yet l daresay if wives have time fo do more than their household duties fl ought 10 be devoted to their intelec- tual development. and in taking heir part in charitable and philanthropic move ments of the day. However. it is Tot necessary for her to go outside the home and instruct the public in order hat mankind may be blessed. Married women can faithfully perform their natural work in the home. and humanity at some fu- lure time will get the blessing.
 The frigidity of husbands often comes from the desolate state of their homes on evenings when the woman's club is hold ing special and prolonged session. They