Arizona republican., 1919-01-27
PHOENIX GIRL GROWS. PROMINENT IN COUNTY. DEMONSTRAT|ONWORK

u as county demonstration agent in the rural districts of Minnesota is Miss Mary Elizabeth Stilwell, the clever daughter of Judge w. II. Stilwen.
 At a meeting Of the Northern Min nesota Development association held in Grand Rapids recently Miss StilWell was asked to discuss the woman's part in winning a home in northern Minne sota and her talk, given without notes, was considered the best feature of the convention. which attracted a large at- tendance from that section of the state.
 Miss Stilwell passed her early girl hood in Phoenix, attending the local schools. After leaving the high school she registered at the Tempe normal, going later to St. Lawrence county, New York, where her father passed his boyhood. There she entered the St. Lawrence university, completing a dive-year course in four years.
 During her first six months at the university she made the record of re- ceiving the highest grades ever award cd a freshman student. Later she taught at Swarthmore college and was afterward Q member of the faculty of inc Germantown high school. Miss Stilwell then enrolled at Columbia col lege, taking Q post graduate course. Two years ago she was named as a demonstration agent by the University of Minnesota, a position she still holds
 The address Miss Stilwell made be- fore the convention recently appeared in the Duluth Herald as follows:
 The hit of the afternoon was made by Miss Mary Elizabeth Stilwell. coun- tv demonstration agent of St. Louis county, who spoke on "Woman'S Part in 1p nesota-' Miss Stillwells experience, both in her work in St. Louis county and in previous work, has given her a knowledge of conditions from the in- side" and her suggestions for the bet torment of home conditions wen to the hearts of her hearers and made an impression that brought rounds of ap plause. She said:
 Northern Minnesota, now as never before, needs the unqualified loyalty and enthusiastic support of its wom- anhood as it now faces the immense l task of transforming this north coun- | try from mans land of lumber camps | and mining locations, where hundreds l of men of many nationalities herded ! together for the sole purpose of mak- l ing their fortune, into a home land of prosperous farms and congenial | only men, but men, women and chil- dren of many national attractions, but 0 fonly one national allegiance, may i live, labor and develop what We in all sincerity believe to be the most blessed 1 thing in the World-an American | home,
 Tn the pioneer days there was little
 opportunity and not much use in mak- l ing plans for future development. Ev-
 erything was temporary and the men were willing to put up with the primi- tive living conditions for themselves for a short time. But now that per manent settlement has commenced there is a radical difference. What is done now will effect not only this gen.
 eration of the country, but their chil- dren and grandchildren The whole de-
 velopment of the country may be made
 or marred now by the way we meet
 our present needs and anticipate those
 of the near future.
 A largep art of northern Minnesota
 will be given over to agriculture
 Farming never was, and never will be
 a mans job. It is afamily job, neces-
 sitating the best interests of man, wife
 and children, and maXimujm effort
 and permanent results can only be ob-
 tained when the family is living undel
 favorable conditions.
 A man may choose homestead, bu
 it is his wife who determines whether
 or not the family remains there. 4
 man bases his judgment on the eco.
 homie conditions, the character of the
 land, the climate. the market facilities
 A woman invariably considers the ad
 vantage the locality will offer her chil
 dren."
 Every woman has a right to de
 mand that her children be brought u
 in community where they will re
 ceive at least a common school educa
 tion, have healthful surroundings am
 adequate medical attention, so sh will have a fighting chance to keel
 some of her children near her as the,
 grow up. If any one of these thre
 factors is lacking, no woman can 0
 will give the whole hearted loyalt, , and support to a community that l
 necessary for permanent success. "Educationally, Northern Minnesot ; ranks among the first in the induce
 ments it offers to prospective settler: ' Our rural schools have an enviabl
 national reputation.
 The two greatest needs in our rura life are adequate medical advantage and a chance to develop rural com munity social activities. Both of thes problems are so large that they requir the united efforts of every industry i this section.
 We have one of the most healthfI
 and invigorating climates in the Unit
 ed States. It could be an asset a ,, great as the California and Arizon
 climate, but our lack of medical at tention and ignorance of sanitary hom 7 conditions has brought the rural healt , conditions down to the point wher , they are liability instead of d grea asset. It is impossible to estimate til enormous economic waste that has re ) suited from our poor health condi ) tions. It is also impossible to longt remain indifferent to the resulting hu 3 man misery and unhappiness if W would keep our self-respect. Our cry ? ing need is for an active efficier : county health service, not only to cal 9 for the sick but to carry on a vigor , oUs campaign of education to kee ,. people we'll Let us see to it that tt l legislature passes the county nurs } bill. A county nurse will save a hur i dred times her salary in improve 5 health conditions, and be potent al ], in raising the standard of rural life. "No rural settlement is successfl ! that fails to keep a majority of u children in the rural communit
 Wholesome social activities as e2
 pressed in the farmers clubs and con