New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-02-06

residence and power. Beneath the crust every
women in England has a real, poignant, aD
probation OF the horrors o. this war and OF he.
duty in regard 20 il. Motives in specific ac
tons, such as nursing. collecting, making AM
selling goods, etc, may be mixed, but on The
fundamentals OF king and country Of loyalty
and love, the heart Of every British woman
beats true"
The mother OF the man who, While his coun-
try is at war, scornei post Of well paid in
activity is herself tireess worker. and from
early morning until late at night IS engaged IT.
all kinds of charitable activities. This inte
view took place at an hour when thousands ~
Londoners had not yet breakfasted, ard wa
interrupted again and again by callers and tele
phone
The economic position OF women IN Eng
land after the war is going to be greatly i'm
proved" said Lady Randolph The country
will have found out what they can do; and
what is hardly less important the women
themselves will have made the same discovery.
Many new spheres Of usefulness will be ope1
to them, and some to which they have aspir:d
will no doubt be permanently closed.
The bugbcar that has frightened so mary
enemies Of the womcn's overwhelmingly.
that women fancy themselves competent to al
any position held by men-should, think,
after the war be finally disposed Of. 1t has
arisen from a total misrepresentation OF our
aims. We are not out 70 ignore sex differ
ences, which obviously must always remain,
but to abolish sex privileges. We are as op-
posed to legislation in favor Of women qVg
women as to legislation in favor Of men.
WILL HAVE EQUALITY.
Although the sphere OF woren's activities
will be greatly extended certain occupations
will always be closed to them on physical
grounds. But in some we shall have estab-
lisned our equality with men. Just as in others
we shall have proved our superiority. Il IS not
to a boys dscredit that we don't place him At
the head OF an army. No one treats him. as
women in England have too often been treated
with ill-diSguised contempt Nor do we di,.
qualify a nan from high position in the state
because he il incompetent to lead an army
Sex, in short is physical not moral quail
ity and ought not 70 be penalized.'
asked Lady Randolph whether the in
creased employment of women and their fuller
entrance into public life would not seriously
modify that typical British institution, The
home.
Home lie will be changed. but mainly for
the better was her reply IN the richer
classes people who have hitherto led life %
idcncss nd fashionable amusement, and have
been led by the war to take up some serious
purpose, will never go back 70 the old round d
vain pursuits.
AS for the middle classes and the workers
nothing but good can result from this quicken
ing Of outside interests. The tyranny OF the
suburban home, with its deadly fetiches and
cast ron conventions, has slain thousands *
womens souls, just as the dull monotony, the
ceaseless round Of care and anxiety, has
crushed the heart out OF the poorer woman.
The deeper sense OF public responsibility, to-
gether With the new appreciation OF lnterna-
tonal relations that will result from the war,
will not so much sever home ties and obliga.
tons as give them much needed elasticity and
dignity. There will be no destruction OF any.
thing vital or precious in the home, TOR people
who have pleasan. ones will stay there, while
those who have not instead OF seeking distrac-
ton i'll idleness and mild dissipation will turn
their thoughts to the widening vista OF womsn's
true domain
Lady Randolph does not accept the view that
behind much of women's war activity is cal
culated political impulse. Extremists among
the suffrage people may, she thinks, have an
eye on ultimate political advantages, but such
motives are not prevalent
"As matter OF fact" she said, "suffragists
are already in possession OF much that they
have clamorcd for and, rightly enough, are not
going to reinquish it, but they are carrying Oh
their war work all the same. Personally, al
though | do not want a vote, | do not share
the apprehensions of those who think that
women without political judgment will rise 70
high position in the state. Only the best will
ever get there"
One question more, Lady Randolph. viii
not the freer entrance OF women into indus
trial and public life be great bar 70 the re-
alization Of the nations greatest need-a rising
birth rate2'
1T will make no great difference People
generally follow their bent, and il takes a long
time-as an American | say ito effect any
radical change in England. You cannot force
people to have large families. The number o.
women who enter positions prohibitive OF ma g
terna duties will always be comparatively few.
Moreover, there is unfortunately, such larg,
preponderance Of women over men in this
country that, so far as industrial employment
is concerned. the maternity question does not