The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1924-05-29
WOMEN
Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow


The race does not change funda-
mentally from age to age. The
primal instincts of Mother Eve are
those of the modern f1apper, and
thanks be-they center about a man,
a child and home.
1t is only in minor details that
generations differ. We become small
Ter of hand but of lesser vitality;
keener of wit but duller of eye,
more refined but less sturdy. We
gain here and lose there and average
about the same.
what are we coming to- signs
the stately dame who sees her grand
daughter don Knockers. "Old fog
cyl" thinks the Flapper who sees her
mother limited to the horizon of
her four square walls.
Pioneer days made the man "the
head of the house" and woman was
his "help-meet' His physical
strength was required to subdue the
forest and the Indians. Mans
work was the first to be specialized
and he became carpenter, blacksmith,
lawyer, merchant; and was compel
led to leave his home to perform
his labOrs.
The woman remained in the home
dictator of her own labors, caring
for her children and doing the house
work. But the extension of machin-
cry is specializing the woman's work.
She no longer makes soap and sau-
sage and socks, in the home. 1t costs
money to buy these things ready
made. Women cannot afford to be
idle, but is driven out into business
to help earn these things which she
can no longer make.
Contact with the world Is making
her less timid, less conf1ding, less de-
pendent. Associating naturally with
men, she learns their viewpoint,
their thoughts, their interests. The
woman of today is shockingly frank,
and free from acknowledgements
but is as noble and fine as any wom-
an the world has ever known.
A taste of business life has given
her love for it. She has found
to her surprise-that she is able to
succeed in it, and she thrills with |
Joy of accomplishment. 1t is as the |
taste of blood to the tiger. Will |
she ever again be content to be a
"help-meet?"
Her husband likes her better as
pal than as a valet. She glOries in
her enlarged opportunities; but
what about children?
The woman of today losses her
bobbed head in sublime confidence
that "love will find way" When
Evolution presents a problem in one
hand, she always offers a solution in
the other. Home life can be adapted.
Further specialization can take more
of the homework outside the home
and leave the mother time for spirit
ual mothering Business can be
adapted, shorter hours being arrang-
ed for needed-at-home mothers. The
business woman might take a Sa-
bathic year from time to time to en-
10y her motherhood. Kindergartens
and the work-study-play schools keep
the children busy during business
hours. With women sharing the re-
sponsibility of the income, fathers
can share the care of the children.
Perhaps even mothers and babies
could be somewhat adapted without
narming either. Women are grow
ng more healthy; that is something.
We do not presume to know what
means Evolution will employ; but
Is mother-love is a prime passion OF
are certain that the
woman of tomorrow will not be de-
lied
One of the tricks of Evolution q
nay be to enhance the value Of chill I
lren, so that we will save them and '
lot lose one in seven. AS children
ROW fewer, they will be more ap-
reciated-well nigh worshipped, 2
motherhood will be- a
ome, more than ever, the great full v
ilment of woman's life. With r
children the supreme desire of So '
iety, society will adapt its usages a
O the accomplishment of its desire.
The man, the woman, the child, t
he home-these are the eternal p
critics. We need have no fear for '
hem through ages and ages OF to-
norrows. v
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