New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-08-07

A new type, the sufragist mother
was introduced in court at Lawrence
l.. l., Yesterday, when Mrs Mary Har-
ris Mainland, Of 80 Flushing Avenue
Jamaica. appeared before Justice Rus
sell Sprague to explain how she came
to leave her two children, Albert. six
teen, and Louise, ten, in tent on
storm-racked beach while canvass!ng
votes for the cause Of women.
Day before yesterday Chief Of Police
William Ryan. on complaint OF the
Children's Society of Brooklyn. rowed
across the inlet to Lawrence Beach
and brought the children to town, where
he placed them in the keeping of Ot-
ficer Daniel Kenyon until the mother,
stump speaking in The Bronx. could
be summoned.
Mrs. Mainland is not society suf-
fragist who has sacrificed her children
for prestige. She is hard working
employee of the party, and she nightly
exhorts men to grant the franchise to
their sisters; first, to earn money TO
support herself and her two children,
and. second. because she believes
women should have the vote.
In court yesterday morning she was
angry and indignant that her children
had been removed from their summer
ing place and that she had been COM
PEELED to leave her work.
I'll I mr. q
here?" she demanded of Justice
Sprague. in the practsed voice of a
speaker.
For what looks to me like case of
gross neglect of your children" an
swered the justice.
Nonsense" she said. taking com
mand of the situation. did you ever
see healthier pair of children in your
life?"
Pair Picture of Health.
The court and the spectators had TO
admit that they looked healthy. Tall
and straight and bronzed from expos
ure. they were easily the most
healthy looking persons in the room.
These children of mine" continued
Mrs. Mainland. "are entirely capable
of taking care of themselves. They
the beach for three years. and nothing
ever happened to them which did not
make them cleaner in mind and body.
| do not mean to have my children
poisoned with tenement air and tene-
ment morals
"All Of their friends have gone away
for the summer. and to leave them at
home means that they would be in the
street. mingling with the riffraff Of
the neighborhood. They have plenty
to eat. can sleep as long as they want,
and | come to see them two days
week. IL is ridiculous and unfair to
make il appear that | am neglecting
them. have to work to support them.
and if | worked in an Office | should
be no better able to care for them and
would be doing no good for suffrage in
the bargain"
The justice was impressed by these
words. but he insisted that the beach
was no place for the children. at is
dangerous for grOwn-ups," he said.
land YOU will have so see that these
children are not left there alone, or
they will be handed over TO some one
able to take care of them"
Mrs. Mainland agreed to take the
children home with her and the com
plant was dismissed The pair. who
were unconcerned throughout the hear
ing. returned TO Jamaica. while their
mother went back TO work.
Albert. at his home Yesterday after
noon. explained that since his fathers
death. two wears ago. his mother had
been bard put to keep him and his sis
ter at school. First. she had run a
boarding house. then lunchroom. and
both had been unsuccessful. She con-
sidered herself fortunate to be getting
SIS a week TO argue the cause of suf-
frage at the present time.
He Cooks, She Makes Beds.
The part of the beach the children
occupied is FIVE miles from house and