Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-01-06
WOMEN OF FRANCE
SPUR ON SOLDIERS
Succers In Trenches Due to support
of Fair Srx. Says
jules Rois.

WASHINGTON. January Jules
Bois. Partisan journalist and lecturer.
delivered an address yesterday after
noon at "A meeting Of the Alliance Fran
caise. held at the Cosmos club, in which
he expressed the opinion that the
wonderful work Of tho French in the
war gets its principal inspiration and
support from the women OF France.
He analyzed some Of the reasons FOR
this belief in a discussion of the social
and personal role of the French women.
\ distinguished audieuc. WAS present.
among them Nine. JusSerand wife Of
the French ambassador. aud tho Italian
ambassador and Countess dc Cellcre.
MIR. Bots. who is a chcyalicr of tn"
Legion of Honor and officer and
former officer of number Of French
literary and art societies. as we'll as AN
exponent OF woman's rights in France.
sail that the real Frcnchwoman is not
the one usually seen outside Of France.
who seems to have no cares in the
world except personal appearances and
social ambitions"
lie continued:
French civilization is integral, II Is
not only intellectual. but also scnti-
mental not only masculine. but fcmi
nine. IL addresses tho heart AS much
as the mind and comes from both. That
is why il is human and shines in It's
strength OF sympathy for other races
and nations.
"Frcnch civilization Is biatcral 1t
is the result OF the understanding be-
tween tho French man and the French
woman, loving and working together.
As for tho feminist propaganda. VI has
not been hoistcrous with US. Woman
has above AL, been preoccupicd IN
persuading aud convincing man by her
example. lntellcctuals or political ms
are almost unanimously disposed to
grant To the Frenchwoman her Do-
litcal rights. but il is she who is not
in hurry: she asks for her new rights
one at "A time. that she may be better
prepared to exercise them
"Thc heart and the mind OF the
French woman form pure treasures Of
modesty. scrupulousneSs. disciplined
discretion, not only in the family and
tho schools, hut also in our churches.
near the scpulcher. and to-day in the
van of the train Of tho wounded. near
ambulance beds
1T is to defend this treasure--thc
we'll AS To protect the sacred soil ~
ancestors. that to-day the Frenchwo-
man fights.
"Frenchwomcn held back their tears
when their husbands. their brothers.
| their sons departed for the front. thus
giving them more courage.
THE F'rcn.hwoman is the valiant
sentinel OF the rear
Truly. the Frenchwomau watches:
she is the sentry who. from afar fore
tells, the sentinel whose cry announces;
danger calls IL arms. supports tho
attack
The war Of trenches has altogether
changed the order OF battle
The sentry Of to-day is no longer
the little watch stationed IN wind. rain.
cold. darkness. gIu III band 1t the
rear. not far. for behind The firing line.
II is the wife. tho sweetheart. the sis
ter. the mother. tho daughter. the bride.
In the home. left empty by the men.
women labor for the fighters: in the
hospital they nurse the wounded. some
times riSkinC life and sometimes Civ
ing 1t: they pray for tho dead and for
the living: by their perpetual sacrifice.
their militant virtue. they rollaboratc
in tho victory which God and our arms
will grant us"