South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-04-30
How Woman May Regain Her Identity
BY ELBERT HUBBARD.

Reforms never come as result Of
sentimental agitation.
However. reforms begin in that
way. because feeling vas developed
before thinking.
a statement or facts makes an ap-
peal TO the understanding.
II action follows, the result IS
stable, reliable, persistent.
The appeal that sentiment makes
is TO feeling. The action resulting
from an emotion is often violent, It's
energy goiug of in embarrassed eX-
haust.
From it's nature IL must be tenn
porary. spasl1odic. iucoherent.
ResolutiCLs made when fever runs
high are usually not wise ones. and
they are rarely kept.
The normal pulse gives reason an
opportunity 20 act. The light Of the
morning sun illumines a proposition
better than any artificial ray
Fer example: A shoemaker in the
duma at an opportune time made
statement concerning the cost in Rus
STA Of years consumption OF vodka,
and showed how much bread the
money would buy.
The calm statement did what no
amount OF sentiment rad ever been
able 20 do.
The great nation OF Russia abolish
ed the manufacture and sale OF in
toxicating liquors And this occurred
in "a country where to the inquiry,
what is the greatest stream in Rus
sia2" the answer was. the vodka
England is now studying the strong
drink problem from an economic
standpoint.
weeping wives. children and moth
ers, eloquent orators for many dec
AIDES have spent their sentiment in
vain.
The sale and consumption OF strong
drink increased.
The tears irritated. the eloquence
provoked.
But when men used reason and saw
the economic waste involved they re-
formed IL altogether.
These statements are made here as
constructive proof that the basis OF
our enduring activities is economic.
People Of the Goth century think
in terms OF money
Values are represented directly in
money not In units Of energy.
Our respect for a nation is founded
on its economic ability.
The nation may have given 20 us
beautiful painting music literature.
sentiment eloqUence. but unless il is
financially strong # is not considered
peer with the first nations.
A nation must have within itself
the means To earn its own living and
have a bank account if we consider
it responsible.
The same is true Of an individual.
No one asks advice Of q dependent,
a Deggar. an incompetent, a defective.
No one seriously asks advice OF a
woman whose only claim for recOgni-
90 il 90 no
ful she maye be.
When we want what we call vital
help we ask for it of a person who has
had experience in economies.
This is natural and primitive. be-
cause our primal want is the hunger
want
Poets. painters. priests. musicians. |
soldiers. lovely ladies OF high degree, I
have no substantial civic or economic
value
We ask wisdom from "a man OF af- |
fairs" "A man who can earn his own
living. and more.
The supreme power of the world to- |
day. that which supersedes all other |
power, Is wealth power
This statement does not have TO be |
proved. 1t is automatic.
The poor men whose philosophy |
has Influenced the world have been a !
long time dead.
AS to wOmaI. no matter what dig |
nified experienced. or how wise a !
woman may be. If she is without in |
dependent property she is not !
economically Independent. her infu- |
snce is limited 20 the walls of her |
own home.
And her influence in her own home !
IS largely one of sentiment
The basis of individualism is eco /
aomic Independence
As proof note the popular attitude I
.oward a woman who has recently 4
ALLEN heir To a large fortune. Discov- I
cries of hitherto hidden values are I
Immediately made.
She becomes a woman OF pawer I
although she has earned none of this /
money
a widow If through her bereave- I
ment she has fallen heir 20 property I
assumes an individUalism. an entity. I
tn identity which was never hers
Ehen she was wife.
This new Importance is wholly on I
account OF her economic entity.
The property which a woman had j
" her own before marriage became /
he husbands 10 manipulate and con- /
rol after marriage.
BY marriage "a woman has lost her J
IDENTIFY when the magic words are
pokcn.
Woman then ceases to be femme I
ole and becomes femme covert
The advantages of matrimOny for !
woman should he many Love I
ompaniOnship. responsibility. sharing
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