The independent. [volume] (Elizabeth City, N.C.) 1908-1936, 1922-12-22
"WHAT is THE USE OF
A MOTHER NOWADAYS 2"
Being Discourse Between the
Drummer and the Doctor in
the Southern Hotel

out OF lie IN small Town, cOuSueu
a New York Drummer, half StransiCd
by the fumes from DIR. John SalibaS
pipe, in the lobby of the Southern
Hotel the other night.
Its Il good thing they don't re-
torted the Doctor.
somebody else is entitled to L lit
tie of it. Your big town woman frit-
tcrs her time away, chasing the COM
pany of expensive people outside
her home. which she ncglects for
every social affair on the calender.
She leaves her children under the
careless charge of nurse, while her
poor husband spends his time chaS-
ing money to pay the bills. He never
has an opportunity to enjoy life.
Why shouldn't woman attend the
society gatherings" sailed the
Drummer. ~ woman needs the So
cial contact to broaden herself.
brushing up against people outside
the home, makes life interesting for
her and relieves the monotony of do
nestle life that usually shuts her out
from the world
The mOnotony of domestic life
that shuts her out from the world.
Snorted the Doctor. There iS moth
mg in the life of conscientious mo-
ther that is mouotonouS. Any wo-
man who has children and loves them,
has Il complete little world Of her
own. Whenever she begins to spend
her time with society friends, she
begins to feel and to impress upon
others. that the company of society
is worth more to her, than the COM
pany of her husband and children
Well" venturcd the Drummer. II
woman ought not to be tied down at
home all the time"
"She ought to be there most of
the time. if the welfare Of her fami-
" requires it." replied the Doctor.
Even all of the time, if necessary.
In ASSUMING the duties of mother
hood. she has assumed an obligation
that cannot honorabIy be cvadcd.
And it looks nowadays as if your
society women are bringing things to
the point where i mothers rcspon.
sibility ends with bearing children. 1t
certainly seems to be abouc all that
is required of them"
Evidently you don't believe in the
rights of women, then" tackled the
Drummer. You don't set aside cy-
cry privilege as the inherent right Of
man. and man only, do YOU
Not at all. not all. YOU under
stand me-" said the Doctor. Let
the women vote. if they want to. Let
them be the bookkccpcrs. the clerks,
the lawyers, the druggists, the
preachers. or what-not. But, when
they assume the sacred calling Of
motherhood, then they should make
its duties and responsibilities of pri-
mary consideration, and social duties,
or what-not, should take secondary
place. And as for voting, they can
certainly find time to cast ballot
once every four years"
Stay home, day in and day out,
see nobody, hear nothing, learn moth
ing. That is all there is for u moth
er, do you say"
Certainly not. There is opportun-
itv for association with worthwhile
pcopIe whose contact will inspire,
stimulate. encourage, broaden and
strengthen the mind Of the mother
toward her duties. 1t IS only people
whose IDEAS stimulate and encourage,
who are worth cultiyating. You will
find none of them. among your set
whose ambitions are encOmpaSScd in
society exclusively They frittcr
their time away with friyilouS, Cos
sining, irresponsible, card-playing
crowds. whose influence is neither
broadening, strengthening nor inspir-
ing"
"Then you are evidently Of that
row cuIt whose purpose is to re-
strict the pleasure and leisure OF
women" questioned the Drummer,
oTot at all, my dear fellow. 1t is
not nv idea. nor is it new one.
T:obtecn centuries ago, during the
decline of Rome, the same conditions
,roro anparent to Favorinus, ko-
man philosopher, who heaCd that
tbo wife of one of his followers had
;,,s+ Given birth to son, and he went
- inouire after the mother, and TO
oorgra tulate the father. While tax
- his leave he asked the mother
80 law Of his friend if, the mother
nd suekle the child herself, ana
On bc:ng told that nurse would Dc
u L.a;nod 70 save the mother from
Tavinr the heavy strain Of nursing
III, 15aJ 70 the pain she had already
,,Forod begged the dear lady 10 IL
low her daughter to be Il mother 10
10" riIJ MI # is a crime against ma
Ine said Favorinus. 1t is only
Slif suif' = mother to give it birth and
then send it away after n"f-HS