New-York tribune., 1915-03-06
WIVES ARE INDEPENDENT
A. Mothers They Give Service for Their
Money.

To the Editor Of Uhe Tribune.
Sir: In this mornings Tribune Mrs
Alice Barrows- Fernandez makes an earnest
and interesting plea for what she considers
"the economic independence of wives but
bases her arguments on a mistaken premise.
She assumes that the position OF the av-
erage wife is that of slave, and says OK
wives that economic independence raises
them forever above the chattel status"
In these DAYS of educational and profess
sional opportunities for women it seems q
pity that so many should be ignorant OF
the true position of wives and mothers.
Because woman has occupied this sphere
since the beginning of the world, many COL
lege graduates take it for granted that the
position is contemplate and in itself un-
worthy of their great talents. Nothing
could be further from the actual facts.
What we need are mothers better educated
and of a higher sense OF duty toward tneir
homes-not mothers neglectlng their own
responsibilities by leaving their homes TO
earn money outside of them. | say out
side" advisedly for the woman who re-
mains in her home, caring for 1t and bring"
ing up her children intelligently, is eco
nomically independent Every penny she
receives is honestly earned, and in no sense
of the word is she "chattel." Any one
can prove the truth of this statement by
trying to hire woman to replace dead
mother in a modest home where there are
little children to care for. The would-be
employer will be surprised at the difficulty
and expense of filling the position.
What we need most is to have women
themselves uphold the dignity and useful
ness of the profession Of wife and mother
and not decry il, as they so constantly do
And what we need in our homes are more
intelligent wives and mothers. 1t is esti
mated that about 100000 babies die every
year from "preventable causes"-practi
cally from the ignorance of their mothers
When we read of 900 soldiers being
killed in battle we are appalled, at such 9
dreadful and unnecessary loss of life. But
these innocent babies pass away through
no fault of their own, and the world is in
different. These ignorant mothers love
their children as dearly as other mothers
do but love alone is not enough to make ar
efficient mother. Some schools are nov
doing excellent work in teaching their CIR
pupils to cafe for babies and cook and sew
These are the fundamental occupations o.
life, and are important and dignifed IL
themselves, but half-educated people r, garC
them as contemplate. They take il fol
granted that it is noble thing 10 pound {
typewriter in an Office, but very much tn,
reverse to cook meal in a kitchen. Ye
the world existed quite comfortably fol
many centuries without typewriters, bu
has always needed food, clothing and th'
care of babies.
Yet | would not argue that the domestic
circle should occupy all a woman's time anC
mind. The wider opportunities for educa
tion and interesting work are the creates
of blessings for women, and they are GER
tainly showing the effects of them. It i,
well that women should do whatever worl
they are fitted for, but mo manor woman
can serve two masters The woman
who has a husband, home and children can
not be an efficient wife, housekeeper ant
mother and a successful worker outside tn,
home at the same time. 1t may be sale
that many poor women occupy both posi-
tions. Quite true, And how many of thos,
100000 little corpses are the result?
ROSE II. PHELPS.
Hackensack, n. j., Feb. "a, 1915.