Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-09-26
MRS. BLANKENBURG
DEPLORES THE WAR
AS SIRREPARABLEE EVIL
Men Killed in Battle Flower
of Race - Women Con-
servators of Peace-Work
the Key to Happiness.

Mrs. Rudolph Blankenburg wife of
the Mayor of Philadelphia, has returned
to town after two months spent at her
country home in Pocono Pines, followed
by fortnight in September at Atlantic
City.
On the devastation and suffering of
warfare Mrs. Blankenburg holds decid-
ed views. 81 think this war, as war
is a terrible thing" said she, "and l
know that when the women of the
world are consulted there will be more
peace. 1t is a stock argument of the
anti-suffragists that women cannot fight.
but the anti-suffragists overlook the
fact that it is the women who produce
the fighters. I know many mothers
who want their children to go and fight
for their country, but 1 believe that
the majority of women hate the very
idea of warfare. When women have Il
voice in the Government it will be far
more difficult 10 have war! Personally,
when l think OF the widows and orphans
left | can find no excuse nor apology
for It.
zone Of the worst features about
war" continued Mrs, Blankenburg earn
estly. lis that the hale and hearty young
man. who. before he is accepted by the
army authorities, must see we'll, and
be well. and have a fine physique, is
being killed. while the lame and the
blind and the feeble stay at home to
be the fathers of the next generation.
That is the vital point in which war
fare weakens a nation so much"
Mrs. Blankenburs has just given UP
the vice presidency OF the General Fed
Grafton OF Women Workers. as she finds
she cannot devote the necessary time
10 il this winter
do you think the woman worker Is
the hapQiest?"
81 think that every man and woman, no
matter whether they are rich or poor,
should do some work to insure their
own happiness and growth" said the
Mayors wife. 1t gives them a wider
outlook in every way, too. No matter
who earns their own living, il is hard
work. Itis difficult thing TO get started
IN way of comfortably earning n
living. and so long as women have TO
earn their own living this evolution is
making il easier for them to ne prop
erly prepared and equipped for the strug-
gle So long as women do go out Of the
nome to work, they cannot be too well
equipped
Do you think the very rich woman
works as hard as the average middle
class worker. who earns her own liy-
ing?"
There are a great many kinds Of
work" said Mrs. Blankenburg. "A great
many rich women who are supposed to
lead easy, leisured lives, work harder
than many a poor woman. You cannot
live in luxury and elegance without hay-
ing a good deal OF care along with it,"
do you think there Is as much hap
piness among the poor as among the
rlch?"
"I think" said Mrs. Blankenburg, that
poor people, provided they are not
actually hungry OF I'm want, have as much
chance to be happy as the rich. In fact,
/ think the man or woman who has a
comfortable home ard a little money N
the bank is infinitely happier than the
1ne who keeps aRxiously counting his
millions.
II should like" she continued, "as a
suffra gist, to express my qualification
that the Ladies' Home Journal had 80
promising an editorial in its September
number. this editorial stating that II
would be well for women 10 get ready
for the ballot"