Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1911-08-17
WIFE OF TIE FIRST
SOCIALIST IN CONGRESS

will enable him to make his way in tho
world. When 1t fails to do this, as ]
think it does now, it is time to remedy
things. The greater number should b.
benefited in the schools. and not the ia.
vored few who possess means to continue
Their studies in the higher branches
Ih1s in a nutshell is what am trying to
40. 1T Is the entire fabric which must be
rebuilt. l favor music ana culture OF
every kind even in the grades, if it does
not interfere too much with the real
things which must be learned. 1t has
been my pride that while nearly every
member OF our school board has some ia
vor!te work to advance. some sewing,
some music and physical culture, others
the technical branches, | have devoted all
my attention to improving the course OF
instruction and to simplifying the present
curriculum in order that it might in the
eight grades present a complete and prac.
tlcal system of elementary education. l
am making some progress, but there ARD
mountains to be conquered before we
reach the high road of real REFORM
Mrs. Bergers interests naturally extend
to the organized societies for the benefit
of mothers and children. and she has
been a member of the mothers congress-
ever since it's activities crystall.zed. She
was a delegate to the International Con.
gress OF Mothers which met here In
April. and her plain expos,tions of ex.
listing evils were among the interesting
features of that conference. She belongs
to many divisions of philanthropy, and
her time is entirely filled with ideas for
the betterment OF the poor. There arc
three children in the family, Dorothea.
who Is nearly 13; a boy. Jack, who IS II.
and another little girl. Elsa. who is not
yet 10. Mrs. Berger had intended oming
to Washington independent OF the happen.
ings of congress to attend conventions OF
various societies to which she was sent as
delegate. so she did not withdraw her lit.
tie ones from the schools which they had
been attending all year. But when the
sessions of ongre became too prolonged
she decided to return home and perhaps
later to come back to Washington. Her
plans for next year are altogether tenta-
tive. for she dislikes being away from her
husband. yet her home ties and the work
which she has begun in Milwaukee are y
powerful lure. She also dislikes the idea
of changing the school plans for her chill
dren. but she kinks all these problems
work themselves out with proper consid.
Grafton.
Mrs. Berger was, before her marriage,
Miss Meta Schl.chting. and a native OF
Wisconsin. She met her husband while
she was teaching in the public schools.
and first became attracted by his political
tenets. and later yielded to his powerful
III S0aiiculS vi SOClallSIl ana became a
working membe in his district.
Mrs. Berger has taken up the study OF
sociology and econom.cs-themes which d.
not usually appeal to women-and she has
become as earnest an advocate of the doc.
trine as her husband and his coadjutors.
But She believes in working along differ
ent lines and never assuming leadership
In public matters. She thinks that womer
can do certain work impossible for MAJ
to attempt. and vice versa, and that onl,
by keeping strictly within these lines win
good ensue.
Mrs. Berger's time in Washington was
comparatively brief and she had many in
terests at stake, yet she covered an aston.
lshing lot of ground. She visited some
W dozen schools personally and hello
lengthy conferences with some of tho
foremost educators. She expects to EN-
body her ideas of the schools here With
those formed of other eastern schools ir
a report which she will soon make before
the school board in Milwaukee. This re.
port will be awaited with considerable in
terest.
II claim for my husbands work that nc
has something greater than to lower tins
price OF food or To bring about material
advantages. though these are things no:
to be sighted by the publicist,' said Mrs:
Berger. We aim to free the people from,
the grave danger of beng ruled by the
~obligarchy Of wealth and to give them q
chance to rule themselves and to be the
masters of their own destiny. instead OF,
being the slaves of conditions. 1t is 4
large subject and contains so much foo6
Tor thought that nothing can be so en-
crossing once you begin the study. Polit.
zeal history contains nothing more in.
structive than the rise of the socia
democracy. The fact thai labor and eco
I NOmicS arn NOW. a Sriapfifin ,J;,i,;n. 80.
education and possess their cabinet mimic
ter and round of assistants In the gov.
ernmental work, conveys some idea o,
their Importance. Women, I think. have A
vast amount to do With Improving soci<
condltions. and they can do this without
becoming unwomanly or getting into pur
suits which would destroy the quiet %,
uonlestic life. ! take great pride in ths
perfect home environment. 1t is the great.
est and most useful mission for woman.
but her own happiness should make hei
long to assist others to solve their prob
ieiEs and to meet the issue squarely.'"
Mrs. Berger Is attractive In appearance
with a calm way OF speaking and a friend
ly manner. In Milwaukee she Is note.
for her housekeeping qualities. and she has.
all the reverence for the maker OF roof
bread and pie and cake that the ultra
conservative woman could possess. II was
also quite typical that during her short
stay she made many friends. The elA
vatcr boys. the newsboys, all the large
army which provides the needful things ir
the simplest life, the grocer's messenger
the telephone and telegraph attendants
became her loyal admirers and would en-.
Enthusiastically volunteer to carry out fo,
her commissions o. TO deliver messages 70.
her during her absences.