New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-04-01
THE OLD-FASHIONED MOTHER
What She Did for Her Children and
How She Is Missed.

TO the Editor of The. Tribune.
Sir: Will YOU allow mother OF grown
children to express the pleasure she eX-
perienced i'm reading the letter in yester-
DAVIS Tribune signed "A Working Girr'
il is so comparatively rare nowadays 10
hear any woman speak scnsibly of the
responsibility OF mothers that one appreci-
ates all the more such views as those Oh
~ Working Girl
In these strenuous days women arc
working so hard to be imitation men th't
they are rapidly giving up being women
and the duties Of wives and mothers are
regarded as things contemplate. Through
all ages OF the world women have been
wives and mothers. therefore these posi-
tons have ceased to he honorable ana
desirable. Only within the last thirty
wears or so have women been employer
i'm business Offices, therefore 1t IS much
more honorable thing to pound type
writer than to bear and bring up healthy
children with well rounded characters.
Mrs. Edgell is a good example Of the
modern woman's spirit. In one year she
proposes ito bear and rear child
This one year appears to be the length OF
time she considers necessary for this duty
With a mother like this. one can but pity
this poor baby that is to be. II will have
to be most wonderfully developed chliu
If it is able 70 care for itself AT one year
Old during those long hours when us
mother is teaching school Perhaps the
Board Of Education had some sympathy
for this HELPLESS infant when il refused
the years leave Of absence. Certainly IL
acted with wisdom in refusing to Mrs
Edgell an inducement to abandon year
old baby for half the time.
Never before in the worlds history mas
there been such widespread education as
we have in this country. and surely never
before have there been 80 many nervous
spoiled children. To really train a chiid
that is TO develop It's character In the
right way and TO instl the old-fasnloneu
virtues which the world still needs, nom
esty. truthfulness and self-controI-a
mother must herself be honest. truthful
sclf-controlled and just. But the modern
mother has so many things TO do outside
her home that she has neither the time
nor tho inclination 10 exercise these
virtues in the training OF her children
Sometimes IL seems az II she had not even
the common sense.
4 few weeks ago mother called In a
doctor for her little daughter, five years
old who was evidently ailing. The child
had a sore throat and was feverish, nut
had not vet developed a specific disease.
The doctor ordered the little patient to be
kept I'm bed till he came the next day.
The following morning he arrived 10 ma
the maid giving a vigorous sweeping 10
the drawing room. with the dust fylnS
i'm the breeze from the open windows. In
the middle OF the room the small girl was
PLAYING. The doctor said sternly TO the
young mother: Didn't I tell you to Keep
that child in bed" Yes. doctor" she re-
Piled. but, YOU know. Betty is so wiltul
can't make her stay in bed II she doesn I
want to" Mrs. Blank" said the doctor,
don't YOU tell anybody that. for II IL 2
disgrace for any woman 20 be unable 20
make fve-year-old child stay IN oed
hen IL is necessary
Perhaps I'm time women VIII really APP
preciate III. great privilege they have
In training children. For instance. II
every mother Of child two years old or
less I'm this country were 10 persistenty
teach that growing child the desirabillty
of woman suffrage. now long would II take
for women TO get the vote? cheerfuiiy
recommend this method 10 the suffrasists :
ELEANOR L. SEXTON.
Englewood y J.. March -. 1913.