The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-01-19
PEOPLES FORUM


I
Editor Nirginian
! Sir,-A-r moved to flare a little fash light
! 10 relieve .he pessimistic shadows cast by your
correspondent in today's virginian IN How
Women Contribute to the Worlds Brutality"
In turning the pages of the worlds history for
citation OF womans responsibility for woes that
have afflicted the race the writer failed to go
back to the Garden OF Eden and indict woman
, tor the fall OF II long parallel column
OF comparison were made of mans and woman g
contribution 20 the brutality of this old world,
it would present THE deadly parallel for man,
The trail of sin across the centuries is to neither
sex confined. but woman has been buster in
bandaging the bruises caused by the sword of
man than IN the making of mischief. For
every concrete example OF woman's prostitution
Of her queenly power TO brutal ignoble ends
there many more instances of self-sacrific-
ing devotion and intelIigently directed error,s
to uplir the world. And as woman has by de-
srees emerged from the long night of unnatural
bondage of her powers to the servitude of the
man master, her unfettered potentially for
good has been better and ever increasing
blessing to the world. In this present, age OF
advanced civilization, and when the march OF
progress IS building ever greater social high
way across the world the architect and the
builders largely. and, indeed. chiefly. the
mothers Of mon In times OF wars desoaton
she is the same Eternal Evangel ard Angel of
Mercy that characterzes her when the white
winged dove of peace hovers over her land, ano
She prefers those victories OF peace that are
less renowned than those OF war though she
may teach her sons the patriotism of home
land protection and defense, and reverence for
the brave defenders who trusted in God and
kept their powder dry
Within the fell-clutch OF gaudy and giddy
selfish fashion not few women, well as men.
are held. but considered compostey woman's
car Is bent close to the zephyr breathings in the
cradle and her clarion call LIS also heard in
rare rallyirgs of manly men to beat hack the
dark clouds of our social life and let In the
sunlight of peace and happiness Yes. woman
Is the inspiration and power OF every social
reform and, in good truth, the present feminist
movement, including the equal suffrage propa-
sanda, had its birth in heartfu desire for better
home protection and home training, while its
strength is in the felt need of the infusion into
our soceo- political life OF the unfettered
man conscience. Some women may delight in
patronizing the brutal exhibitions OF the arena
or stage. but woman is keeping the church
belts and tho heart heiis hess than the
dinner bells of the nations ringing and ever
lifting to higher eights OF hope and hap
piness
The sunbeams gid hallowed picture hung
on the wall. 1t Is OF her who long since went
20 Join the celestial choir A handful Of sacred
dust under grassy sod in the silent city is
al of the mortal remains of the sweet mother
who taught by precept and beautiful example.
lessons Of peace and forgiveness. justice. mercy
Eand charity. Her gentleness caused the birds
Of the air to fly to her extended hand and eat
therefrom the crumbs she had provided for
them. The fragrance of her life Is abiding.
At the elbow Of a writer j know there sits
bright faced and noble hearted little woman who
/ tor two decades has managed to find time with
out sighting her own household duties. lend
valuable MD in urthering movements to social
betterment and in relieving the distressed In
mind body and estate. 1t has entailed toll
WEAKNESS, self-s acrficing, but her comuu-
lnuY and the world is better for her life. or
such moulds come Frances Wilards and
other uncrowned queens: and whatever
cont urwomanly women may have contributed
to the worlds brutality. such deeds over
shadowed by the golden great deeds OF woman
the Eternal Evangel, whose noble purpose and
consecrated efforts lift above the tinsel and
turmoil of the show and the strife TO the higher
heights OF honor and happiness
THE greatest battle that was fought.
Shall tell you where and when?
on the maps OF the world you will find 1t not
II was fought by the mother of men"
w NJ. BICKERS.
Richmond, Va. January a. 1915.