Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1912-01-01
French Women Do
Much to Improve
Morals of France
ny p. N. CHILOT.

Perhaps there are not very many. even
in France. who have noticed the i'm
portant part woman has played ia France
during the last forty years. We have
been too much taken up with our vain
agitations, our sterile quarrels, to pay
any attention to the immense work done
by our women towards the moral recon
struction OF our beloved country.
Nothing, however has been more effect
i've to open our eyes for the work OF
our women than the exceedingly grave
crisis we have Just passed. Everywhere
We are now told that the whole people
during this crisis behaved in the most
admirable manner Our patriotism i'm
face OF the vimmlnent national danger
was indeed admirable, but II this is so
Il is because behind the men who were
tearing down We're our women who were
just as busy building up. They built
the French city on heights so lofty that
the fratricldal clamors OF the day did not
reach thems on heights where nobody
listened TO the irresponsible agitators or
the intolerable sophists. with eager hands
our women built the immense city which
would receive In time OF danger with open
arms the whole great French family.
II We were able 20 write during last
July that the youth OF France had tri-
umphantly destroyed the bastile OF
! scepticism and fear, the honor is due
solely 20 the women OF France. 1t was
the woman Of France who strengthened
its arms and steeled it's heart, for love
OF country begins In the family and the
future OF the children is the work of the
mothers. as the great Napoleon said.
Woman carries in her frail arms the
character OF the people, the destinies OF
the nation. The present generation which
is 80 strong now and which promises so
well for the, future. We owe TO our moth
ers. our sisters and our daughters.
The woman OF France is fully conscious
OF the duty which the nation imposes on
her, TO nourish the flame and spirit OF
patriotism In the bosom OF her children.
No obligation could be more honorable
than this, and every woman OF France
will realize the extent OF her power
and the measure OF gratitude when she
reads these words which Able Wetterle
said about the woman OF Alsace: 'She
Is the principal obstacle In the way OF
Denomination. which has failed utterly
because OF her. Guardian OF the faith,
the customs and the language OF the
country. she maintains all the old
traditions. She places on the brows of
those who surround her the national
| imprint an imprint formed by all the
lessons OF the past. OF all the Joys and
sorrOws and sufferlngs OF those who
before her have worked and suffered for
our generous soil"
The youth OF Alsaee bears witness OF
this today. Are We not united In the
same cause on both sides OF the frontier?
DO we not all love France with the same
| fervor2
'On no conditions accept your pardon"
said Wetterles old mother to him when
he was In prison.
Children. leave the body OF your dead
father and look after the light in the
lighthouse" said Nine. MetslOt 20 her
two boys
These two women. with their energy
and strength OF character. are typical
OF the women OF Alsaee and France,
and while the soil OF Alsaee and France
produces such women, We may calmly
face the future.
True 10 foreign countries the French