Evening star., 1936-02-09

and not a curiosity. The men were
accused of not showing her much
chivalry when she took her seat. She
thought they wished to make her so
uncomfortable that she would not
again stand for election. Men whom
I had known for years would not speak
to me if they passed me in the cor
ridors." she said. 'They said that I
would not last six monthS-hut stuck
it out"
Nancy Astor's
Prize Story.
One of Lady Astor's best stories Of
her early public career in the House
was about a cabinet member who was
noted for his caustic comments, and
who had accepted her hospitality on
several occasions, finally feeling that
he should congratulate her on her
election: But I have been in the
House six months" replied Lady
Nancy, land you have not taken the
slightest notice of me-" mo" he
said, IT don't like women in Parlia-
ment. and when you took your seat
I endured the same kind of embar-
rassment as 1 would if lady invaded
my bath room" Lady Astor came
back: IF we're as ugly as you.
should have no fear of any lady in
vading my bath ROOM"
Well, times have changed and man.
ners with them, since Miss Susan B.
Anthony gave her opinion as to what
would be the result if women invaded
the halls of Congress. She said:
THAT both the men and women will
be put on their best behavior-morally,
intellectually and socially-because
the sexes together always inspire each
other to be and do their best" And
she added: The huge cuspidors at
every seat will be banished, the heat
ing registers will no longer emit the
fumes of burned tobacco juice, the
two Houses and the corridors will
cease to be filled with tobacco smoke
| thick enough to be cut with a knife,
and the desks will not be used as foot
benches. Decency and good order will
UC OUSCl NCd III b4IC tllC
proprieties of civilized society will OBJ
tain, and justice, not bargain and sale,
will decide legislation. May the good
time come speedily"
The dear lady so valiant in the
cause of women's rights would receive
some fearful shocks if she could rise
from that marble bath under the ro-
tunda of the Capitol. She would wit
ness this generation of cigarette smok-
ing, cocktail drinking. sporting women
who have gotten more recognition in
public life than her fondest dreams
vlsioned. Miss Anthony is beloved
by women and honored by men years
after her death, and to her is given
full credit for her share in bringing
about the present status of women in
the halls of legislation, but the Gus
p1dors are still in evidence, the corrl-
| dors are often filled with smoke-no
feet have been seen on the desks.
Those Town Hall meetings are the
life of politics just now. Some men,
bers wish little more red blood
could be injected into the panels.
They are sometimes so dreadfully
chivalrous-if the speaker is a pub
lie character of great distinction-that
they become tiresome.
One point Mrs. Roosevelt-she
speaks beautiful English, by the way
made the other night, and which 1t
would be interesting to have statistics
on, was that the reason why women
have gone out of the home is because
the work of the home has been taken
away by the mechanical gadgets of
men. Apropos of that, may it be re-
called that in this column recently
was story about the wonderful work
former Gov. Winant Of New Hamp-
shire, chairman of Social Security
Board. had done in organizing people
in their homes into old-fashioned
guilds for home industries and arts,
such as carding, weaving, spinning,
pottery making and other crafts and
industries. because in the great de-
preston the mechanical gadgets Of
men had ceased to function. Spindles
we're silent, wheels had ceased to
turn, manufacturers were shut down
and employment was almost nil.
The Saga of
The Sewing Machine.
A Smithsonian report for 1929.
made by Mr.. Frederick L. Lewton.
curator Division of Textiles, United
States National Musueum. is quite in
teresting. showing, as it does, that
many of the mechanical household
inventions. which almost caused revo-
lutions when first introduced, have
been the means of raising, not only
the standard of wages. but of living.
This report. which Mr. Lewton calls
"The Servant in the House." is a
delightful saga of the sewing ma
chine. He has made what would ordi-
narily be a drab report, interesting