The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1917-01-18
ADDRESS
WOMAN'S SUFFRAGE
Mrs. Livingston Pronounced by Crit
les Great Orator

1t Is becoming dll dDSOlule uttto-
sity for a woman to define what her
work is" said Mrs. Deborah Knox
Livingston of Bangor in her address
before the members and guests of the
Town Improvement Society last
Thursday afternoon. The speaker
then went on to show the develop
ment of woman in religious work. in
educational lines and in industrial
privileges and opportunity, yividly
picturing the pronounced contrast be-
tween woman's work as ii was known
fifty years ago, with her work at the
present time.
1t was an extraordinary convinc-
ing presentment of the question. from
the highest ethical and Christian
standpoint of the need of woman s
direct participation in Government
Mrs. Livingston talked for over an
hour and a half but might well have
held the attention of those present for
twice that time. SO interesting was
the subject and the manner of its
presentation Mrs. Livingston has a
most winning presence, marked or
atorical gift, a long experience in hu-
man fellowship and a living Christian
faith. She is forceful in her re-
marks and with a keen sense of hu-
NOR and touches of deep pathos con-
bined, she makes her hearers laugh
with her or weep with her
Mrs. Livingstons talk was pre-
ceeded by piano solos played by Mrs
Ethel Ames and by one solo sung by
Mrs Agnes Steward. Miss Gertrude
Weston, who presided at the meeting,
introduced the speaker,
During Mrs. Livingstons talk she
told of the first womans college 10
be established that being in Macon,
Georgia Higher education for wo-
men. it seems, is a comparatively re
cent matter, no woman S college be
ing yet so years old, THE young
people of the present day" she said,
are not appreciative enough of their
great advantages educattonally and
are apt to take everything as mat
ter of course. Nevertheless, many
have gripped the opportunities fof
higher education and the progress OF
Democracy and Education has been a
great impetus
She told of the various vocations
now open To women and said that
steam. coal and iron are the only
allied trades which are not open to
them as there are no women working
in the mines nor yet any women en-
gineers
In answer to the question Are not
women needed in the home" she re-
piled. yes. bur where are the con
fines of that home? My home goes
as far Is the interests of my husband
and my son 90. Our children must
travel thru the streets to school, they
play at the Fairgrounds. they study
in the schools No woman is doing
her full work as woman when she
is not interested in these streets.
these Fairgrounds and these schools.
And yet, it is the housekeeper and
the home maker who will benefit
more than any other class Of women
by the ballot because the making OF
the home is a woman's work.
Mrs. Livingston, who is now State
chairman for Maine, an instructor in
special organization work in the
school has been pronounced by able
critics as among the half dozen great
orators in America. She was born
in Glasgow. Scotland. and al the age
of 10 removed to this country with
her parents. who took up their resi-
dence in Pawtucket r |. Mrs. Liv-
ingston became identified with the
temperance reform movement al the
age of l9. being elected TO the presi-
dency of the local Woman's Christian
Temperance Union in the city OF Paw
lucket, h. l. In 1912 she was elect
ed national superintendent of the de-
partment of franchise in the National
Woman's Christian Temperance Tn
ion, and has recently done campaign
work under the direction of the Ma
tional Woman's Suffrage association.
Mrs. Livingston has been a resident
of Maine for four years and is the
wife of Rev. b. F. Livingston Of Ban
gor
AT the next meeting OF the Town
Improvement Society, January Goth
the speaker will be Mrs. George
Wight. superintendent at the Maine
/ Women's Reformatory. who will
speak on "Prison Reform for Wo-
men"