The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1915-11-06
BY Gertrude Atherton

IT stu remains a subject for dialectfcs
whether the women OF the United States
will be inspired by the example of the
women OF beiligerent countries who have taken
20 work. the most pamPered Of them. as natur.
ally as Y eniciency and necessity had been A
fanny tradition. or whether this new pros.
perry OF ours. which. no doubt. Will continue
rs ioHe as The war does-and that may be for
years-Ehl make them more recklessly extrava.
ssHl more ayerse from anything but play and
seHinaulgenee than ever. The men. making
Money rapidly for the FIRST time in years. viii
De stu more the traditional good-natured in
uuisent husbands; the question is one that win
DC decided by the women alone.
Ihere Is. OF course. and always viii be a
hopeless parasite class. lazy. selfindulgent.
mercy sensuo1s; / don't fancy that even their
own country at war would move them 70
changes. possibly could not. The point with the
women Of Britain and France. in particular.
VINO have conceived these sudden activities.
and with such astonishing results. is that they
were full OF latent energy. as well as nobility
ana only too glad to expend It upon something
worth while.
save In bare physical power OF lifting. there
are lev pursuits which women cannot nm "a
Wen as men. and even the labor Of the British
Women In manl5ion factories has hardly sur
49," ~-- oAAAtuA u AnG sex. Women had
their restricted place in the general scheme OF
NE during the long centuries OF the large
FANNY, but in these days their restlessness il
cAtIely due 10 the need OF severe practical
CIL4etS Tor their surplus energies, and even
Their power Of endurance Is as great as thai on
al but ne exceptionally strong man.
4-ere mas Tor The reasons given been a great
aNaAehlhs 70 her powers and 20 the larger
possibilities OF life among the women OF mis-
country, as witness the iBsistent demand Tor
me vote and all that its power implies. For
tlal reason ] believe that the thinking women
OF THIS cOun ~ Will never cease 10 erborf 80
IoIoNers TO persist In their determination 10
place themselves on a level with men. Mo-
IVT any mere desire for equality, pleasant as
lhat would be, but 70 insure against future al.
aster For just so sure as We muqt rr,f.
enormously by the present econoulfr -
ton In Europe. SO will we suffer friFhtf1Hv In
the reaction when the war Is over. Even n
pane ~ avoided there VIII be a long dry rot.
alrins which only those that have saved tbe
FS"ter part or what they are maxi e now vvu
be able to live in comfort seasoned by a few
Injuries. "
The keen minds among the women lad
VIII realize all this and encourage wor,e, ~
every class. even the rich. and much more tbc
daughters Of all grades OF the middle class. 10
apply themselves 20 some remunerative worry
10 learn a trade. study a profession turn 49,
smallest talents TO account. 20 into business.
IN short, deliberately 90 themselves for ct5n'
plete independence. We nov desplse the man
who does nothing. even IL he has an independ.
ent income; the time 81 not Tar of. and acccle-
rated by the lessons OF this war when n yrfit
be equally disgraceful for any woman 70 LOAF
The rich women OF this country are bv mo
means the idlest. for they make a business 81
society at least and give many hours OF their
week 20 the various organizations. Charitable
and otherwise, for the amelioratlon Of fno
race. that IS 20 say. the women OF anv scr, ~
social traditions do. the "nouveaux ricbes-
that hl our hotels seem 10 be quite hopeless.
although. no doubt. they would be glad 10 as
sist IN any sort of WORK. II taken up By the
socially established.
But e. Is the hundreds OF thousands OF women
who live In fats. where The days work is very
AEht and who have little or no acquaintance.
who are the real oilers Of the country vho
are bored and discontented. and who swell ths
divorce list. u IL TO these women that the
fashion 90 work az something 10 try ouf fbof-
abilities. 70 watch themselves develop from q
Useless idler into an efficient human bein~
NOuld be the greatest boon that has ever VI.
He'd the sex % is I'M their case that leisure h.
n curse Leisure ls "a blessing only when one
can travel entertain, enjoy constant assocfa-
on with intelligent people. or study Fve,
spendiu- money grows mouo,0nous. and Their
az. Tow nf these apartment house women who
ere not full - latent resource. but Who have
neither the education nor the training 10 fnd
90 QUE Tor themselves
Ihc-o should De- a great central bureau b.
tahLshed run BY women who for years have
been associated with organizations to vbf~h
nrF a1rI or inexperienced woman could ro 49,
i''1i an examination which would onabio
neg 'n e'art hopefully az come sort OF -.
mtacratve nork. There could be- ciaaaea Tor
those t.lt could pay. and ADVICE Tor moe M
Immediate need.
Est tlo point for women % consider nov .
ihe aiom OF DOT waIfnF Tor necersifv. A.
Do .H.r. themselves aa college men f8 or af-r
% .I Hf'r fnf fashion or fhs poor usn.a 700
.c'' cure his wI a1 come about III tlr.
li' D '.Id itr to bee 70 .n uf ewing fr-Irr
.' " Ten years There fl. au1ffr- ar-r-
t..t ulH contribute r1 frI. -.... and f.sf
.'. uaT .n which Ia. --~,
... pi t..s country f1"0u Fash .-. ..- b..
If a r. ] uuuf think Cola fr.#..r. .-..
hH i. prompted ty suU.rr.Irrr. FL
.I... snnf. hF any means rr Old. r.rf-.-
more o. an ancient instinct rf both rr.rrr-.rt
90 Hff ihn mother county and of rvafr.
.ria.DH tlc average American fn be- fr.f fh-t
'trT f1 anything b|ftrr n rnfIarf u.f.-.
DO ."ufihUnE '1 do ufh fls. tFc rmrarffv
nj language more. Tho Americana arr f,ff
an .uIIa.fr and an Inventive race ana nov
ti.i.' extremely ffaf ruT people Of fieir own
tongue should a. ahead of ffrm me-
.orr na"u invention HIa Thor borrow and ~
provo.
Doubt r .fe American women ain ,-,-
siam. ..Hr rr rru wonderful fhr urfrh ur-
0n arr IrnF uI H.fH QUO HrI.H. Irrr a.
prov. mon Gives quite mi uurtrrIuI. more -
tnr tfrr .rt r.t e-r.erf sp fI fhn rraffrl
p.rh which tar UHrf f.r women rf $780,
q completely ouf of t eusevcs mo -oans-
ffr better