Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1914-12-16
WAR DRIVING WOMEN INSANE.
Picture of Horrors Drawn by Women
Just from Europe.

New York, Dec. 0.-Thousands of
women Of Austria, Germany and
France becoming insane and commit
ting suicide because Of the suspense
brought on by the war censors was a
new phase Of the European horror
brought before the joint session Of
the Eastern Council of Reform
Rabbis and the New York section of
the Council Of Jewish Women meet
ing together in Temple Emanuel yes
terday afternoon.
The information was given by Mrs.
Rosika Schwimmer, secretary of the
International Council of Equal Suf-
frage, representing women Of Aus
tria-Hungary, England, France, Ger
many, Switzerland and Belgium. She
has been in America a fortnight
only.
"The tragedy Of silence" said Mrs.
Schwimmer, sis killing the women Of
Europe. Suicides in Austria, in par
ticular, are occurring by the thou
sands daily. The newspapers give
little or no news. Letters are not
permitted to be addressed, although
they may be written. Wives do not
know whether husbands are alive or
dead, or where they are, whether i'll
or not. No wonder insanity comes
to their relief. This condition OBJ
tains throughout Europe, save per-
haps in England in less degree. 1t
is worst in Austria, Poland and Ser
via.
A Tragedy of Silence.
Millions Of women and children
, in Galicia, Poland, Hungary, East
Prussia and Eastern France are
driven from their homes by the on
coming armies. OFTEN their homes
are burned. They have nowhere to
go, nothing to eat, and no knowledge
of their husbands, brothers, sons. Is
,> it any wonder they go insane?
"lf the war cannot be stopped, l
ask whether the censorship cannot
be ended and women told where
their husbands are, whether alive or
dead. Anything is better than the
awful tragedy of silence. 1t is kill
/ ing the best women in the world
women without whom there cannot
be new Europe.
Talk Of suffering in Belgium! 1t
is awful there. But in Galicia and
Austria is far worse suffering be-
! cause Of this silence and because
there are far more people involved
in it.
AT a meeting in London just be-
fore | left letters were read showing
that the women of Europe are not at
war. On the fields German women
are helping French soldiers and
( French women are giving aid to Ger
mans The women Of Europe are
united. There is no thought Of
hatred between them, at least not be-
tween those who are on the fields.
Whichever side is victorious it Is the
women who suffer. They say in Eng
s1and that women will be given politi-
cal rights after the war. ask
what is the good then? What will
be left Of Europe to build up?
Mourning Forbidden.
women on the Continent are not
permitted by the authorities to dress
Sin mourning, even after the bodies of
their dead are brought home. The
sight Of black might depress the pub
lie mind. Bands play in the squares,
and people are urged to attend the
,atres where are patriotic and cheer
'ffnl songs and plays. Such policy
is mockery, and sends more and more
women to suicide graves. 1t is not
men who are building up and pro-
tecting homes. Men are destroying
homes.
IF this war does not end almost
at once there will be nothing left of
Europe but page Of history. You
here at this distance, and from ac-
counts appearing in your newspapers
can form no conception Of the awful
ness Of it all. Conditions are already
desperate beyond description Pic
ture any terrible scene you can and
- will not equal the reality, especial
lNT hn to L. q