The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-14

1action.
 The races in Walker according to re- ports. are exceedingly interesting. It is understood that the problem with which the democrats are concerned will reach a head today or tomorrow.
 home-by managing the house. keeping their husbands clothes in order, and caring for the children--as men al- ways admit Is the case, wives are actu- ally adding dollars to their husbands income. Then ought not a. man to di- vide that same income with her in the form of an allowance, for which, if only to add to her self-respect, he has no more right to call her to account than she has to insist on seeing a list of his expenditures
 When we talked of woman, as in our last sermon. 1t seems natural and easy to opose her mixing and mingling W ith demagogues, there are so many other sweet and hallowed duties in- finitely higher to engage her entire attention--we think too much of her to have her degraded to the level of a politician. But when We discuss the subject of man. 1t seems just as nat ural and easy to favor woman's suf- frage. When we see how easy 1t is for mah to make laws for himself, In com mon justice. we need her presence. If she could get away from some of her ia sks long enough, how much benefit she might be to us.
 Even without the power to vote she has within the last few years raised the age of consent from the ridiculous age of eight in Delaware, to 12 in other states, To the average of 15 in all the states today; and yet this age is perfectly absurd There is not a state in the union that will turn over to IA year old girl property she has in- herited. and yet. all the states propose to turn over to her and devils the price less estate of herself. We really need Frances E. Willard, a Jane Addams, a Florence Kelly, a Belle Bennett to agitate, agitate-to face men with this criminal legislation until to save their face they will vote right or give way to the survival of the fittest.
 Not Acquainted at Home
 Man is not only weighed and found wanting here. but as father he may be derelict. l spoke cautiously of the absence of eompanionship between father and children to a good woman one day. Yes she said, 1t Is true and so much regret it, but it seems to be inevitable, he is so busy all the week and so tired when he comes home, and Sunday is the only day he can get breath of fresh air. that he leaves the children to my care almost completely. He does not even advise me as to their government and control. for he does not really know them: and then, I have to keep them away from him sometimes when he comes In because-he does not mean it--of course, but sometimes he is. a little irritable with them If they are noisy it jars upon his nerves. etc. could not say what I felt so l was silent. She went on There is sonle- thing wrong about our Americap home life said she, T know a good many mothers who feel as l do, that their children are not having as much of their fathers influence as they should. My husband is doing a good business, and is just as generous in providing for us as one could wish. I am sure he loves us dearly. I have tried to tell him, but he thinks he must make the most of his business opportunities; af- ter awhile he says, he will not be so driven; he will have more time, but then I am afraid 1t will be too late.
 ''Yes, so busy that he has not really gotten acquainted with his children. little boy said to his mother one day, Ma, that redheaded man that comes here Saturday nights and Sundays, what slaps me around, has got to quit It. Why' dear. that Is your father. Just here IS the great difficulty with many Amer lCdH D0fltS. llitit lS tioi t'cH3t in them. Every childe has two parents and he ought to have his fathers love and care, and training, quite as much as his mothers. It Is not fair to the mother to have her assume all of the re- sponsiblity for the childs physical. mem tai and moral welfare, and yet that Is what many father does. Of course, he is tired after his days work, and we know that the strain of business life is hard, but the father must remember that he Is thus shutting himself away from the best comfort and relaxation that ever revived the tired heart of man, besides doing a depe injustice to those whom he holds most dear.
 Needs Their Inspiration
 ''He needs the inspiration of their young lives and they need his counsel. advice, companionship and influence. How can he best succeed here? First by gaining the confidence of his children He can do this by a sympathetic knowledge of what they care for most. If he will play with them, enter Into their amusements. play dolls, ball. marbles, fly kites and go in swimming with them he will gain wonderful hold on them. The father must not overlook his children at school or in public places. There is no place where a child likes to be treated like a little man or lady as in the presence of teachers or older people.
 q know a father whose manners are those of a cultured gentleman to his equals, but often very bad to his children. He treats them just as he chances to feel He behaves to them at times as he would not dare to behave to his ser wants; they would leave him if he did. But the children have no redress, they must bear whatever he chooses to give them.
 ''rhe wisest of teachers the noblest of companions, even the tpiest and best of mothers, cannot take a fathers place to boy. Yet many a father is so busy with other occupations that he has. or rather thinks he has, no time to act a fathers part. It takes time to be a father; but 1t pays in the end, for if man who lives a true and noble life will give himself to his son, it is almost i'm possible that the boy should fail of at taining to noble manhood. Then, when he is grown to maturity, strong and sym metrical in body, mind and spirit and takes his place beside his father in the battle of life and lifts the brunt of 1t from shoulders that are growing weary, the father will find that the young man is worth every sacrifice that has been made for him; for there is no truer word in all scripture than this little sentence: "A wise son maketh glad father "