Evening star., 1914-04-25


University of Wisconsin.
That the individual home in this age
Is utterly unable to solve the problem
of the training of the young was the
conclusion forcefully stated by DR.. NJ. V.
O'Shea of the University of Wisconsin,
before the meeting this morning of the
third International Congress on the Wei
fare of the Child, IN session at the
Raleigh.
DR.. O'Shea made the point that the
children of today never are alone; that
the agency of the telephone is keeping
them always in communication with each
other: that they go TO the moving pic
ture theater. or play their games in the
-streets-always in crowds, and that they
are literally never alone as were the
children in earlier days, to give their in
dividual attention to study which means
SO much for their mental development.
Cites Way to Solve Problem.
He declares that by neighhorhood CO.
operation alone would it be possible to
solve this latest problem of the times;
that it would be necessary for the par
ents in the neighborhood to get together
and agree that all the children should be
required to give the hours between and
or the hours between and . each
evening to study. then there will be
crowd-do what the crowd is doing" he
said. We cannot make the university
course in comic sections as interesting as
the tango and the appeal of the moving
picture theater and of the dances, and
the things of the streets are taking the
oh nf he
more.
At the morning session reports also
were received from Mrs. David O.
Mears of Essex, Mass. chairman OF
the committee in charge OF the chi child
welfare campaign: from Mrs. Walter
lie Roy Smith of Maiden. Mass, chair
man of the parent teacher depart
mcnt, and from Mrs. W. F. Thacher
chairman of the committee on home
economies. DR.. Walter W. Reach, di-
rector of medical inspection in the de-
partment of health of Philadelphia,
gave a description before the Congress
of Mothers of the method of utilizing
the moving picture film In educational
work He told the delegates that the
stories of Dickens, of Scott. and even
geography lessons are vitalized before
the eyes of the children in moving
pictures thrown upon the screen. The
final number Of the morning program
was an address on Rural Organiza-
ton Service by Miss Lillian w. John =
son of Tennessee.
Societies in japan.
1T is only sixteen years since the first
mothers meeting was held in Japan" de-
clared Mrs X. P. Alexander of Toxic,
japan; now there are fourteen societies
in connection with the Woman's Chris
tian Temperance Union and a number of
others that have not become affiliated
with that body.
She said the Japanese home problems
are in many ways more difficult of solu-
ton than are ours in this land, and mo-
thers' meetings are growing more popu-
la with all classes of society. often a
husband will allow his wife to come to a
Christian mothers meeting when he
would not permit her to attend a church
service.
.'.All of the mothers meetings are un-
der the leadership of Christian women,
and there is always a Bible lesson and
prayer at the beginning, followed by a
or some one who understands the prob
lens waiting to be solved by the busy
mothers. Sometimes each mother is
asked to bring her own particular prob
lem, and such meetings are often the
most helpful Of all. At the close there is
the iney table tea and cake served by
the hostess. Over the teacups many a
mother too timid to speak out in q
formal meeting opens her heart and asks
for advice from those more experienced
than herself.
Mostly Non-Christians.
There is a mothers meeting in connec-
tion with practically every Christian
kindergarten in Japan. Most of the
mothers in these meetings are non-Chris-
tians. but in the meeting with which 1
cJo
half of the women are Christians. Some
of the Christian fathers make it a point
to stay at home and look after the chill
dren on the day of the meeting SO that
their wives may be free to attend. A
number of the mothers In this. particular
meeting are my former pupils. Just as
they felt free to come to me with their
little perplexities In the school days SO
they bring to me now the problems that
come to them in the rearing of their chill
dren and in the conduct of their homes.
From this, the pioneer mothers meeting
in Japan, there have gone out Christian
women ready and willing to open other
meetings in their own neighborhood.
''In most cases monthly meetings are
held. and once a year general meeting.
to which all societies in Japan are asked
to send delegates, or at least report.
Beside the regular monthly meetings, we
also have in connection with many so
cieties lessons in foreign cooking and
sewing. Most Japanese men like for
eign meal now and then, and they are
pleased when this can be prepared in
their own home. Many up-to-date Japa-
nese mothers like to dress their little
girls at least part of the time in Amer
lean clothes. and the sewing classes are
very popular.
Tracts Are Distributed.
Some societies also have circulating
library, and tracts appropriate for moth
ers are usually distributed at the close
of each meeting. Mrs. Draper. who is
chairman of the mothers meeting de-
partment of the W. C. T. u, Is anxious
to have some Of the loan papers sent