Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-08-03

war, which has wrecked The lives OF
so many European women. has. never
thcless. been a great victory for the
sex. While the men have marched off
to the firing line. the women have
calmly flled their places III finance,
factory and even politics, and have
raised funds for hospitals and supplies
for the wounded on the side They
have met the demands OF the war with
4 high courage. set aside the campaign
Tor tho ballot, and have displayed a
remarkable degree OF efficiency in their
new occupations which has been none
the less conspicuous because OF it's
quietncss and calm.
AS result. the men are beginning
TO be worried. Some are already en-
PERTAINING disQu!eting visions OF t!mc
"hcn the war over, the status OF the
sexes Will be changed and the men will
be dependent upon the women for sup
port Tho Germans were the first TO
recognize the danger o! woman's sue
cess In former masculine monopolics
OF work. and 10 compile neat lie, Of
statistics on tho question. which is soon
10 be made public. The other belllE-
ercnts followed suit. and heated dis
cussions on the subject are now being
neid In all the capitals Of Europe. IT
IL really very difficult problem The
women have become ucsd to their eco
monte independence. and like IL. Not
only nave they supported Themselves
and their children, but they have un-
se!hshlv spent most OF their spare cash
IN buying bandaGes and tobacco for
'hcir soldiers Now. when the war IS
over. the fair sex may object tn r.
turning 10 their old status OF feminine
ihier!orl'N. and Insist upon Keeping
the mems jobs. Al any rate, there
Will be no DENYING them tho vote.
me remarkable work OF the Euro
pean women in the war is clearly indi-
cative OF the progress OF tho So. Soy
erai years ago, when the T'oer War
was occupying the attention OF Eng
land. group Of English society women
conceived the romantic Idea OF offer
ING 'ne'r services in taking care OF the
wounded. They packed several trunks
with dainty feminine apparel ana inur.
women have become used 10 their eco.
"here they informed the authorities
VI 'hciT Intention. The general in
ch"rSe was patient man. but within
very short time his amiabiiitv rayo
out. and the young women returned
to London with more cxperience hut
Tess enthusiasm. They had not known
no" 10 make even the crudcst han
"HScs or do anything useful. and they
proved constant disturbing element
,'nohE me soldiers, who could not
Neep 'ncir minds on the Doors The
.nH were gone. once moro became
ah'"oic' and referred to the episode
'hereni'er as the pia que OF women"
~ european Womcn's Efficiency.
"-""F. when women are doing half
!. we administrative work of Europe.
showing especial efficiency in the hos
pltai ana relief corps, the adventure
or the English society ladies appears
showing especial efficiency in the hos
almost medieval Now the English so
c'etE woman is engaged in conduct
ing the family Investments. looking
after the orphans Of lost soldiers and
organizing new societies for making
war apparel She and hor sisters have
"orKcd side by side with the men. for
me mon ard in the places Of men, prov
ing their value rs citizens at every
turn. Not once since the war began
nave the mon venturcd the opinion that
"oHlahS place was tho home, and not
once nave the women attempted any
aggression for the ballot Just recent
ly. however. The significance OF this
fact has begun TO dawn upon the Euro
pean male and he has ordered ocmmis-
sionS established for the Investigation
INTO the question of the future poll
teal status OF women.
IN this country. too, the example OF
inc European women has had it's in
hncnce. Here the agitation for the
ballot is still conspicuously manifest.
hut lately the critical international re-
Iations Of the United States have caused
every private propaganda to be sacri-
feed to the more urgent question OF
preparedness. War with somebody has
been constantly imminent, the South
west border has already been invaded
and women all ovess the country.
wives and daughters OF militia men
have already experienced some OF the
dcprivations Of war. WhiieS there IS
undoubtedly n harge woman's peace
party. which opposes tho business OF
prepa redness. the great majority OF
American women are making every
effort to prepare themselves for n pos
sible war with the same high courage
and quick versatility displayed by the
European women. 1t is the great op-
portunitv to show what they can do.
Progress of American Education.
The education OF the American wo.
man also has progressed since the
country fought It's last big war. When
the Civil War first broke out the
Northern women wasted a great deal OF
INSTRUCTED energy In making articles
called havclocks for the soldiers Have
lock societies grew up overnight; So
ciables were given with regular fire.
aucncy while the women worked OH
havelocks, and the whole thing became
o mania in which almost every wo-