Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-08-30
Little Talks by
Beatrice Fairfax

The war has given women their
big chance. II has disproved most of
the libels that the reactionaries have
been repeating about them.
And now that women have grasped
their tremendous responsibilities -
tilling the soil, working in munition
plants, handling traffic on street rail-
roads it is almost incredible that
only two years have elapsed since
Justice Shearn handed down his mo-
mentous decision regarding the rights
of women to their children.
He said that The right of mother
to the custody of her children is at
least equal to that of father"
The occasion of this decision was a
suit by a clergyman who sought to
take the last remaining child from
his wife on the grounds of His para
mount right as rather"
The reverend gentleman had based
his claim on a decision of Black
stones. rendered In 1s42, that: The
very being and legal existence of a
woman is suspended during marriage
is consolidated in that of her hus-
band"
In handing down his decision, two
years ago. Justice Shearn said that
the world had moved since 1912. And
year, or since we have declared war
it has torn along with breathless
speed. leaving out worn prejudices tc
fiutter in space like dead leaves.
Justice Shearn, in disposing of the
paramount right" claim, said that
The only basis for the fathers al.
legged superior right is his obligation
to support his children" This basis
disappears when one considerer what
the mother gives to her children in
suffering, self-sacrifice and devotion
Since then the war has compelled
women to be both father and mother
to their children. In their heroic
efforts to release their husbands fol
war service. and at the same time
to keep the home going for their
children, the women of to-day have
shown unprecedented fortitude.
Looking back over the first year
of the war. the new fields of indus
try for women lie in the munition fac
tories, street cars and subways, ele-
vator operatives. farming in all its
branches. messenger service. and in
some parts of the country as team
sters. chauffeurs and lumberjacks.
This would seem to dispose of that
venerable fallacy that all women
were more or less invalids. and il
they should happen to walk couple
of blocks to a ballot box on election
day to deposit a ballot dire results
to their health were apt to follow.
No More Sacred Sphere
We hear no more from the reac-
tionaires of woman's sacred sphere
being the home. On the contrary,
we are urged. IF YOU have spark of
conscience or patriotism. get to work
go out and do your bit"
A recent investigation as to con-
ditions wages. etc. of women en-
ployed on the surface railroads in
New York City brought out the fact
that a number of them had asked
for might runs" as it left the day
free for other occupations, and wo-
men. conductors with children pleaded
that they preferred the might runs,
so that they might look after their
children, cook and wash for them
during the day.
1t is to be hoped that the cnthu-
siaSm of the woman recruit in these
new fields of endeavor. and her desire
not to be found wanting, may not
carry her too far on the road TO
martyrdom. That she may learn to
temper industry with prudence and
work with rest.
France. working in munition fac
tories all day and taking fifteen min
utes OFF at regular intervals to nurse
their babies!
For. curiously enough, the crechc
or day nursery. seems to be part OF
every munition plant in France
The French women, formerly the
finished. feminine has become grimy
demon of work. as she labors ten and
eleven hours daily, forging shells fol
the destruction of the Boche.
without the unfiagging industry OF
the French women, our armies could