New Britain herald., 1915-05-29
France Will Not Legitimatize Its
 War Babies, Says Mme. Jane Mendes
Nor Will Morality Fall or Woman Rise As Result
 of European Conf ict Declares Poet and Lecturer

surely they will wan he voc. Jus as you do now. But there is no fight for it. They will first ask permission to take in charge certain municipal af- fairs, then state affairs, as you would put it, and then finally national af- fairs. But they will work at it grad ually, if a bit moro strenuously, just as they did before the war. 'fYou must understand that the difference between American and French feminism lies in this point, that the French do not struggle for emancipation. The F1ench women do not hope some day to prove them selves the superior of man. They do not even think of equality of the sexes In France man IS woman's s companion. He tells her all that he knows, and she is capable of under standing. Therefore he does not fight against her advancement, he merely sees it as the desired accompaniment of his own.
 No Change in Economic Situation.
 '.In the economic situation, as might easily be imagined, there will be no great change consequent upon the war. Tn France women do not think of being economically indepen- dent of men, any more than men feel that they should be independent of women. For with us the work of omen is almost indissolubly inter woven with that of men.
 Men share not only their business profits, but their business labors as that in America a young woman goes @r Sh enters the home and her husband works at his business. But in France she becomes his business partner as we'll as his wife. Thus you see that there will be little to change inn mediately in the economic status of women. rHA a
 And a moral change in women, or in men, because of this war ?' and she smiled reproachfully, as if at the folly of the idea, closed her eyes and so dismissed it.
 What" she was asked, lis the at titude of the French women toward the Peace Conference UT Women at The Hague?"
 Eyes Snap in Anger.
 Her eyes opened suddenly, snapped in anger, the remainder of her face remaining immobile. Peace? What do we know of peace in France? What FrenchWomai1 Is so base as to think of, making peace while invaders are in her country? We cannot think of peace. There are no French women, at this congress. beg your pardon. There are two women in it, Il believe but women of importance refused to enter it. How could they? Women hate war. Women want reace, everybody knows that But women won't and can't make peace at time like this
 But I think the congress is fine and an admirable thing The women in it will not do anything about peace now, however. They will, at their next congress if everything is in ripe condition. help to make peace But for the. present they can do nothing
 Far Greater Influence.
 "In case another war should threaten to arise womans congress iof this sort would have s far greater influence. For women now are ad- miring these workers. They are wise, they are brave, they have perspective and they are doing what is really divine. Women all over the world must now prepare. They must study to acquire some of the political out look of these women and them And then when they have the vote they will be able to prevent the war :'' Then she shook her head doubtfully and threw out her eloquent hands.
 'sAh, no,' she said When they have the vote, all over the world, and when they have become as familiar with history, with affairs of state in all it's branches, as these wome., of the congress have, then they will have great power. They will help material ly, as partners of men, to prevent 8 repetition of what is now going on.''