Evening star., 1915-04-11
Fathers CONGRESS
URGED ON WOMEN
Agriculture Department Club
Expert Thinks Male Par
ents Should Organize.
Mr.. OSCAR H. BENSON
SPEAKS AT THE RALEIGH
Convention Delegates Also Hear
Other Talks on Subject of
Children.

There is a vast difference between
parenthood and motherhood" declared
Oscar VI. Benson. an agriculturist of
the Department of Agriculture, in
charge of work in the northern. central
and western states, at the session yes
terday afternoon of the state conven-
ton and council of presidents of the
District of Columbia branch of the Ma
tional Congress of Mothers and Par
ent-Teacher associations, held at the
Raleigh hotel.
Mr.. Benson had for his subject Civ
ing City Boys and Girls Rural Values
Through Home Gardens The speaker
said it is great thing to be father,
but that he considered it a greater
thing to be mother
IL would rather be president of the
Congress of Mothers than speaker OF
the House of Representatives, said
the speaker. "and l would rather be a
member of your organization than a
member of the Congress of the United
States.
Congress of Fathers.
The formation of q congress OF ia
thers'' in this country, and especially in
Washington, was advocated by the speak
er. He declared that the fathers ought
to be organized as are the mothers that
they might better learn the care and
raising of their children. IF the fathers
would combine into such an organization
and work shoulder to shoulder with the
mothers we would have excellent work
done"
The difference in the raising of coun-
try boy and girl and that of city boy
and girl was described by the speaker.
THE country boy and girl stay in their
home at night, gathered in one room
with their parents, brothers and sisters
and possibly the servants Interesting
stories are told, good papers and good
bo1is are read aloud and games are
played. The city boy or girl lives in a
house with some part of the family away
each night. They themselves begin to
go out and instead of having a home they
simply have house where they live"
Speaking of Fairgrounds for country
boys as compared with those for city
boys. the speaker said the country boy
the city boy has playground that man
made He also said that the toys with
which the country boy amuses himself are
made at home, and that he secures more
enjoyment from them than the city boy
who has his toys made in shops
They Need No Pity.
pity from you people, he said ."The
cities and towns are built for business
and grown people and not for children.
The country is the place for the chill
dren.'
Mr. Benson urged the appointment of a
man and woman at each of the public
schools of the District who would take
the children out into the Fairgrounds, and
while they are at play instruct them in
other things than the studies pursued in
the classrooms. Following his talk the
speaker gave stereopticon illustrations of
the Montessori system of teaching chill
dren out of doors
The session opened with piano solo
by Miss Emma NJ. G. Bender Mother
talk by Miss Mary l.. Reed, who is CON
nected with the only mothercraft school
In this country, which is located in
New York city.
Mrs. Carl +. Stuhler sang a solo, and
an address on Conservation of the
Child" was made by Mrs Elsie Cole
Phiilips, assistant secretary of the Mil
waukee child welfare commission
Nine. Ali kuli. wife of the Persian
charge d'affaires. made brief address
on Mother and Child of Persia" Edwir
Callow gave several readings, after
which tea was served.
In connection with the. convention
an interesting exhibition of wholesome
and unwholesome foods for children be
tween the ages of two and five wears
was held Menus for children of those
ages were prepared, while on a table
nearby were exhibited various foods
which were declared unwholesome 70,
children.