Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-07-08

| ngure IN the sim es%sSSSS d@sAasaAssazssssss
gle tax, in suf-
frage and Zion. MRS. MARY FBLs
ist movements in America, became the
wife of Joseph Fels in the fall of 1881 at
Keokuk, la.
Her courtship began when she was 8
years old. Joseph Fels was a youth Of
10, travelling in the West on business.
He was always interested on looking up
any family with the same name as his.
On hearing that a family named Fels
was living in Keokuk he called on them.
A little girl Of years welcomed him
to the house. He decided that she would
be his wife some day. That little girl
was Mary Fels.
When she was a student at st. Mary's
Academy at South Bend, Ind, the regu-
lations prohibited all visits to the students
by young men who were not relatives.
But Joseph Feg would not let himself
be deferred. When told that he came
under the general regulations for visitors
he interviewed the Mayor of South Bend
to see If his influence could be brought
to bear. Eventually the interest of the
Father General of the order was evoked
and he secured for Joseph Fels brief
interview with Mary Fels. In the fall of
that year they were married and came
to Philadelphia.
Combined Travel With Study
The life of Mary Fels for the next 30
years was too closely interviewer with
her husbands to be related apart from
his. Their only child-a son-died in
infancy. Together their interests in hui
manity developed year by year. Joseph
Fels came more and more into public
affairs, his wife always the silent partner.
During the first years In Philadelphia,
Mrs Fels took q course in biology at
the University of Pennsylvania. Her hus-
band became interested In the vacant
land movement in other cities and In
augurated the movement here. Business
interests took him to Europe and Mrs.
Fels always accompanied him. While he
attended to the interests of his firm.
Mrs. Fels devoted herself to the study
of the history of the country In which
she was temporarily located.
Beginning in 1901, they made England
their home for six months of every year.
The depression following the Boer War
had caused an abnormal number of un-
employed. A deputation of women, backed
by Mrs. Fels. marched from the Mile END
to Westminster to present their protest
to the House Of Commons.
The subsequent work done to mitigate
the troubles of the poor developed into
farm colonies financed by Mr.. Fels until
the Government took them over.
This was the beginning of the public
service rendered by the Felses in Eng
land The Hollesley Bay and Maylands
experiments followed, along, the same
lines as the original one.
The Fels home at 10 Cornwall terrace.
became the centre of all those who were
working for the good of humanity. The
spasmodic benefit of any land scheme
that held out only temporary relief was
not sufficient. The road led them 70
single tax.
Their interests included more than the
problem of the land. The suffrage move
ment in England in its struggle for
democracy appealed to the sense of JUS
tice keen in Mary Fels. Both suffrage
parties, the Women's Social and Political
Union and the nonmilitant organization
knew her as a friend George Lansbury.
the first man to endure hunger strike a.
a protest against the brutality of Hollo-
way JAIL went to the home OF the Felses
to recuperate.
Gives Herself as Well as Her Money
Joseph Fels died on the 22d OF January.
1914. The first question that came TO the
minds of the single takers OF the whole
world was whether his wife stood reaeV
10 keep up hIs8work. The answer came
within a few weeks Not only did she
stand ready 10 contribute money as
freely as her husband to the interest or
single tax, but she offered her services
as well. Since that February. Mary Fels
has toured the United States and gone
into Canada, speaking In the interests or
single tax. This week her book, the
biography of her husband, was put on
the book stalls. But the struggle for
economic justice has not engrossed all
her time. When the Ford peace party
was enrolled. Mrs. Fels was urged to be-
come a member.
my motive" Mrs. Fels has often said.
"in Joining the expedition was general
impulse TO take part in movement to-
ward internationalism."
In the conference Of delegates OF neu-
tral nations that followed In Stockholm.
Mrs Fels was made a member for the
United States OF the Permanent Board OF
Cancellation. The Zionist movement. its
aim to establish centre OF Jewish cul
ture in Palestine is also able TO count
Mrs Fels as one Of its strongest MEM
bers. At the convention recently held IN
Philadelphia Mrs Fels stated that shs
was ready TO contribute TO State or eoun-
try to introduce single tax principles.
But" said Mrs. Fels, Il viii not back
up a single colony in the midst of other
eoionles II a Jewish nation Is at any