New-York tribune., 1919-02-12
''Home Making in Highest
Sense Is Woman's In
communicable Birth
right Declares Writer
Began Writing 73 Years
Ago, and Still Works 4
Hours Daily; Takes Mile
and Half Constitutional

Seventy-three years ago Marion Har-
land began to write for publication.
No month since that far distant time
has seen her pen idle. To-day, in her
eighty-ninth year, during six of the
seven days each week she still spends
four hours each morning at her desk
the oldest active author in America,
probably in the world.
She was one of the first women in
America to enter the field of novel
writing. Close to two score romances
bear her name.
She was q pioneer in domestic sci
ence. A dozen of her books on house
hold lore have brought counsel and
comfort to women of three generations.
She has travelled in far lands, and
has written many volumes Of history,
biography and accounts of her jour
neyings.
But it is not as novelist, domestic
scientist, historian, biographer or
traveller that Marion Harland who in
private life is Mrs. Mary Virginia Ter
hume. hopes that her name is to be re-
membered.
Thought of the Home
Upon her long life of tireless activ
ity she wishes that more intimate
Characterization be placed:
Marion Harland, maker of homes
This, she said yesterday, is her dear
est wish, for home making is part of
Marion Harland's religion. All her life,
she explained, this is the ideal toward
which she has striven, and from the
heights Of her long struggle toward
that end she sent through The Tribune
Yesterday this message to the millions
her friend, although they have never
seen her:
"Home making, in the highest and
best sense of the word is woman's in
communicable birthright.
land her glory she may not give
to another"
Yesterday morning, Marion Harlend
worked from to g at her desk as
she does six mornings out Of seven,
clicking away at the typewriter which
she substituted for her pen few years
ago. when a fall badly strained her
wrist.
Takes Mile and Half Walk
After that she conferred with two
publishers and made arrangements for
several sets of articles to be written
during the coming year. Following the
raile and half constitutional" which
she takes each day, she appeared, knit
ting in hand, to sit by her great grand
child and talk Of her favorite topic
women and their great destiny as home
makers.
She believes in this more strongly
to-day than she did fifty or moro years
ago, when first she preached it. Suf-
fragc agitation, womens invasion of
industry, the moral change in the out
look of womenkind-all these arouse
lively interest and comment in her
But behind them all, and at the foun-
dation of them aii, she sees one ele-
mental thing--home making. This, she
says is, and always will be, womans
destiny.
The home" she said yesterday, as
The foundation of society. 1t is the
thing that all that is best in life rests
upon. 1t stands beside religion and is,
think, foretaste of what awaits US
in the next world The saddest word
in the English language is 'homeless.'
Her Home Always Happy
Perhaps" she continued, and her
grey eyes twinkled, "I would not feel
SO strongly about it, If had not had
such nice family all my life From
my babyhood, I have seen the beauty
of home and the misery of not having
one.
THAT is what most women have in
their hearts, I think Few want fort
unes or fame. Most of them lust
want homes, in which they may be
queens over their small dominions."
But" 1t was pointed out, there
are more women in industry to-day
than ever before. Won't they want to
stay there"
Not one out Of twenty" Mrs. Ter
SPiiSu' Aue situation In In
austry Is unreal--it was brought about
ny the war. Presently it will adjust
itself. and most of the women work-
ing to-day will leave of their own ac-
For putting aside everything else-
many women don't like to hear mn
say this, but it's true--.woman,s IN
alienable mission is maternity Sho
cant stay IN business and fulfil This
have never seen it done.
Believes in Independence
"The. feeling has been growing for
years that every woman should be ab1e
TO support herself. That is verv
Just idea. believe In it thorouohIv
But II you ask if active business is thn
best preparation for home MAKING
must say that | do not think so.
Nor do I think that woman ;s as
vel fttcd az man for business or in |
dustry, either as cmploye or executive. /
W course, il is rather early 70 nudge
of this, for the business woman is a !
comparatively recent DEVELOPMENT ri
90 oeleVe,. however. that men have
better business principles. are lexs
swayed by sentiment, and don't let
their personal likes and disi,kes in
terfere with their work"
STILL" IL VAS guggcsted. "vou have
been business woman all your life
and you made home, too?0
"Ycr," raid Marion Harland ouirttv
ous l ran ny business at home. | /
MAD no office hours and my children
a I4xtA A<ya H.