The Washington times., 1914-07-16
Miss Edith L. Grosvenor Says
Biological Differences Are
Clearly Opposed to Votes
for Women.


Present day ponen need more
swimming and less suffrage.
That is the pronouncement of a
physical training teacher. She ap-
the woman suffrage CUES
ion from an interesting new angle.
And she retains her sense of pro-
portion in advocating swimming
for which too much has been claim
I'd by some and to which too little
attention has been paid by most
folk.
1t is entirely practicable, in this
experts opinion, to teach swimming
in public schools. She would hare
such instruction, in most cases, be-
gin in the first grade.
By J. R. HILDEBRAND.
Swimming and suffrage.
At first glance that combination
sounds much like counterpart and
sheep raising, cubism and eugenics,
sewage disposal and Ibsen. But
there is a connection. And Miss
Edith L. Grosvenor, physical train
ing teacher at Eastern High School,
made the relation very clear.
Miss Grosvenor believes in swim
ming. She would have its teaching
made a part Of physical training
work in schools. She would begin
with the six and seven-year-olds Of
the first grade in most cases. Nat
urally, by the time one had a high
school diploma, she would be a KEEL
hermann.
Nor does Miss Grosvenor disbe-
lieve in suffrage. She simply does
not believe in. il. There is a differ
ence in this distinction. Because,
she will tell you. when one active
~ opposes anything that thing i'm
medistely assumes an unwarranted
Importance. By ones opposition, one
magni1ies it
Suffrage is unsound from 4 biolog-
zeal standpoint, in Miss Grosvenor's
opinion. DR.. Wiley to the contrary
notwithstanding, and the good doc
tor will talk to you about amoebas
by the hour in order TO prove his
point, Miss Grospenor stoutly as
that s,pH hin
logically different. Therefore. votes
for men does rot entail any such
corolIsry as votes for women.
There you have her views on
swimming and suffrage. Now for
the connection.
A Sort of Disease
No amount Of legislation. no
amount Of statutory effort is going
70 make women and men alike"
she said. Such 4 performance is
much Ike our effort to turn night
into day. We think We have sue
ceeded. but we must pay the pen
atty. Our light by night is pretty
poor imitation OF sunshine. For a
while we go along well, but nature
is going to collect for our foolish
ness
Trying 10 Iegfslate men and
women into similarity shows about
the same fmpertinent and feeble
effort to combat nature"
Perhaps you do not see the con-
nection yet. Well, YOU have gath
cred that Miss Grosvenor regards
woman suffrage as sort of an
snomoly. perhaps q disease; GER
tainly pathological condition OF
mind
Our present-day high school
In an artificial environment. Such
an environment tends to produce
artificial and perverted ideals.
The average high school girl
Miss Grosvenor said. "forgets how
to play. She is 50 impressed by her
ncw-found dignity that she no
longer cares to play ball or skip
rope. So she forsakes those amuse-
ments which tend to give her a
physical and mental balance
Girls especially need swimming
as a recreation. 1 would not go to
the extreme of some folk and say
that swimming comprises all Of a
ment. But I would say that Il
meets every requirement for physi-
cal upbuilding realized III any
other single sport.
Its Best Feature.
''The very best feature of swim
ming. from a hygienic standpoint.
is that 1t normally is performed
outdoors. No physical training
teacher. no matter how much she
is devoted to any method or sys-
tenn. will denY that the great out
ooors. natures gymnasium, IS not
vastly superior 10 any sort Of
gymnasium man has yet devised.
The best equipment we know about
cannot match the outdoors"
Now that the connection has been
established. IL seems eas%, doesn't
It? Be normal, and you will be diff
ferent from mere man. inasmuch as
you are different from him, you will
not wish TO do the same things he
does.
u might help. In understanding