Evening star., 1936-06-28

activities OF the 1nterraclal committees
which were formed in the churches.
For Houston has both o colored and
a Mexican population. Many Of the
women are working to give definite
social and economic advantages to
both these races in an effort to raise
living standards.
"A few years ago such a movement
would have been impossible here"
they explain, and sigh as they tell
you it will be long uphill fight. But
you sense that the battle merely whets
their appetite as they continue.
When you are young you should have
a good time. But as we women grow
older we have duty to perform to-
ward our community"
Church-going and fearless, these
women have always demanded disci-
pline and industry. However, you re-
alize it is of an exclusive western brand
as you hear of how, during the racing
season, they crowded the tracks. And
what amuses particularly is q story
told me yesterday by rangy Texan
Will q WlIhS0 INdlh1C lIl 1lLo CJSs I1C
had gone to place bet into a certain
bookie's Office, which occupied the sec
ond floor of an Office building. Much
to his amazement, he found 1t over
flowing with women knitting indus
triously and waiting for reports on
their bets.
1t is common saying in these
parts that the men expect woman
to carry her own weight" That must
be true, for on many a ranch mother
may be found in the smoke house
making sausage, while daughter helps
with the branding of cattle or cor
railing the horses.
A RANCH woman said to me as I
stood in her kitchen and watched
her and maid putting up strawberry
preserves: I'VE women know our jobs.
We do our share whether We live in
the city or country. However, We
never forget that we are part Of the
life around us. We read the news
papers and books and keep up with
what is going on in the world.
Its the sort of life we plan for our
children. Now one of my daughters
stays at home. She is taking singing
lessons. The other girl works in town
for the oil people. She goes to school
some nights, for the company has
classes for its employees. But we all
belong to the Women's Club out
here"
She went on to tell me how pleased
she is with the community spirit Of
the women. When asked her If this
was general, she smiled indulgently
as she explained that all the women
of her section found time for helping
out.
That's our life" she said. Take
even Mrs. B. and Mrs. R., whose fam
lilies are both on relief. They still
belong to the club. OF course we
can't expect them to pay dues. We
know what struggle is and we women
all pull together to keep up the tone
of things"
Now this feeling is not confined to
the rural districts. I found this same
spirit right in the heart Of the city
in the homes Of the industrial workers.
We were sitting in the combination
kitchen, living room and dining room.
1t was roomy and honey. I asked my
hostess, the mother of three daughters
and a son, what she wanted most for
her children.
i want them to learn" said she,
and her tired face glowed with the
thought, ito be good citizens and have
lots of friends. It's true we haven't
anything to give them, but they'll
manage. We give them all high
school education. The boy is doing
fine in a store. Our girls will get
themselves man. We got lots Of
fine boys in Texas And if the mans
poor they will build themselves q
shack, hoe the ground and start from
scratch. Now, my Mary, she wants
more than that. She wants to go to
college. Well, she can go to Rice
Institute for nothing. But Rice amt
so crazy about taking girls, except
when they are very smart. So Mary
is working very hard and we hope she
can get in. Pa and I will do our best
for we never did expect to have a
girl go to college"
THAT mother herself was anxious to
learn and attend a municipal
housekeeping unit several times a
week. There she is instructed in how
to budget her income, how to plan her
meals and cook them SO her family
will have more nutritious food. She is
even learning how to make wearing
apparel for herself and family as well
as articles to be used in the home.
Proudly she showed me a lovely
dressing table that she made from or
ange crates and some cheap cretonne.
In her combination room stood cor
ner cupboard made from prune boxes.
And on her table was an embroidered
runner which she had created from
flour sack. Her pride was a beautiful
thing and I accepted when she invited
me to attend one of the classes.
You can imagine my astonishment
when I learned that 1000 Houston
women are attending these classes in
the hope of raising the level of their
living standards through more intelli-
gent housekeeping. They regard 1t as
step toward civic betterment. And
they tell you proudly, I'VE are pio-
neer people and we want to learn"
The spirit of the women Of Houston
is the spirit of culture. They crave it,
from the little clerk working in the
5-and-10 to the great lady whose hus-
band made his fortune in oil.
It's the measure by which they judge.
The merchant heeds it, and the shops
Of Houston are cosmopolitan and In
good taste. The architect recognizes
it and now streets, buildings and
houses are constructed with an eye to
beauty. The educator emphasizes it in
the highest standards Of education
and cultural instruction.
Right now the women Of the city are
fussing and fuming because a recently
appointed art commission has on it too
many business men and too few art
lists.
"What do the business men know