Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1922-05-11
BELGIAN WOMAN,
ON u. s. VISIT,
PRAISES Y. VIC A.
Countess DAlUieIId Tells of
Needs of Women in
Her Country.
BY CONSTANCE DKExEL.

WASHINGTON. May 11.-One of the
most Interesting personalities i'll Wash
ington al the moment os Countess He
lene Goblet D'Alviella who -ruently are
rived from Brussels
Tall and athletic looking reminding
one of our own college women a few
years after graduation, she gives the i'm
preston of being the ideal person 10
start group movements along American
lines among Belgian women. For that
is what Countess DAlviella is doing.
She came over specially to attend the
national convention of the Y. NJ. c. A.
recently held at Hot Springs. Ark. and
is staying on in Washington as the
guest of friends.
This is her first trip to this country.
although her mother was Miss Pack
ard Of Albany. That is why she speaks
perfect English Her father was mem
Der Of King Albert's cabinet during the
war though minister without portfolio.
Now he is still a special counsellor to
the King, to be called upon in emergen-
cies
How did You happen TO become In
terested in the American program for
developing womanhood such as the \.
W. C. A. Is establishing in foreign coun-
tries as we'll as In America z" / asked
Countess D'Alviella.
For the first three years Of the war
was in Belgium during the German oo-
cupation and then escaped to France
with my parents" she explained. There
it was arranged that I should give talks
to both British and American soldiers
in Y NJ c. a. huts on the subject Of
the German occupation. Most OF the
times I was put up at Y. W. c. A. hos
ess houses and that Is how / came to
know Of the splendid work Of that or
ganization.
After the armistice the French Gov
ernment asked the Y. NJ. c. A. to start
educational classes and recreational
courses for the girl munltion workers
and for women employees Of the Ministry
Of War. From there the movement spread
into Belgium Now as matter Of fact,
there is scarcely country in the world
but has its American Young Womens
Christian Association workers teaching
the rudiments Of civic responsibility
and group interests so we'll developed IN
this country.
and how we need 1t In Belgium
explained Mademoiselle DAlviella. We
are still In the kindergarten and l hope
it will be possible for us to retain the
three American ~ secretaries we now
have"
There are now five centers in Belgium.
two in Brussels. one III Antwerp, one in
Mons and one in yerviers Countess
D'Alviella is in charge of one in Brus-
sells The three American secretaries are
Florence Risley. Helen Babsley and
Alice Storms.
without awakening thiss group re-
sponsibiIity and an iAterest in civic du-
ties Belgian women won't even care to
vote, That is to say. there is no active
because so few Belgian women under
stand what their participation in pub
lie affairs would mean not only TO them
nut to their country. They still think
Of woman suffrage in terms ofGwomen
usurping the role of men and smashing
windows to attract public attention"
However. what rights of suffrage the
to exercise. That is to say municipal
suffrage was granted about year ago.
and as there is obligatory voting in Bel
GUM, women as well as men over twenty
enc had to vote. Citizens lists were
checked IN after the elections aud those
who did not vote were fined. 1t seens
that in Belgium the Liberal and Social
ist parties are against woman suffrage
because of the influence of the Catholic
religion on women while the Catholic
party fayOrs il for that very reason
Copyright, 1922, by Public Ledger Com
pany.