Evening star., 1936-11-01
PIONEER WOMEN
Spirit Of Their Progenors Still Lives in Those of Northwest
Metropolis Despite Its Vast Cultural Progress.
Feminine Activities Are Numerous.

Norwegians use drawn butter. And
the stranger must quickly learn while
here not to mix up their nationalities.
These people have brought with them
all the antagonisms of the mother
country, but toward the Americans
they stand united as Scans"
In discussing the problems Of family
life a prominent social worker ex-
planned: THE Minneapolis woman Of
Scandinavian extraction holds very
important place in this community.
She is first-rate person who comes
from generations of women accus-
toned to take their place in a com.
munity. Even in the old country they
are civic leaders and have their clubs
and lodges. Besides she is an excel.
lent housekeeper and good cook who
regards her home and her children
as a serious job. While sometimes
we are likely to feel that the women
are a little heavy and serious, yet get
them in a crowd and they have the
best times laughing and playing all
sorts of games. They particularly love
the old folk dancing, accompanied by
the accordion"
Minneapolis women, irrespective of
race or creed, have as their first in
tereSt the welfare and education of
their children. AS a result, one finds
here the finest schools in the country
offering their young people all sorts
of education facilities, together with
the best equipment in buildings, play
grounds and athletic fields that money
can buy. On the banks of the Mis-.
sissippi, within the city limits, is the
University of Minnesota, whose $50
acres of campus is the dream of every
mother for her young. She expects
her child to go to college. And she
also expects the university to particle
pate in the civic life of the city, for
to Minneapolitans the educational,
civic and family life are all bound
together. Professors and their wives
are to help form popular thought,
to be community leaders and serve
the city.
"a CADEMIC isolation is unheard
Of" explained a great educator.
That Is probably why we have such
numbers OF women entering the pro-
fesSionS. They feel they can con.
tribute so much to civic life.''
And the housewife feels the same
way. Where our husband and our
city are involved we must take things
seriously" says she. Before the de-
preston we preferred a bridge party,
but today political meeting or an
educational forum is more important,
for we are going through a number
of changes in Minneapolis" And q
proof of the sincerity Of this atti-
tude can be seen in the crowds at.
tending any of the six forums held
weekly in the various districts for
the purpose of bringing to the adult
current problems for discussion.
The Minneapolis women are accus-
toned to participating in public life.
Here she picks her side and sticks to
it, for little time is wasted in being
fashionably liberal or parlor pink.
If you 60 among many young pro.
fessional women, workingmen's wives,
farmers and small business people,
the women whisper about the tyranny
of the Citizens Allinace, the great
bugaboo Of the farm-labor class. On
the other hand, the wives of the
powers-that-be talk Of the need for
the open shop if Minneapolis is to
survive through competition. and are
likely to discuss the attempts of in
timidation by labor, outside fomenta.
ton and all the rest Of the problems
which weigh so heavily upon their
men.
The women explain that the very
qualities of stubbornness, persistence
and independence that made possible
the building of the great Northwest
has brought about this deadlock
among the people. It is no longer q
political matter, but reaches into the
very heart of social life.
/ NJ A recent meeting of one Of
Minneapolis most active wom-
ems organizations the ladies grew
quite heated over a recent article in
a national magazine dealing with
their city.
while there is talk about all these
things" said one, the majority Of our
people want peace and democracy
rather than violence"
Another explained: Hard times
had a lot to do with 1t. You must
not forget that not only have we
migratory labor and unemployment
problems, but that our average in
come is low. Only about $4,000
persons in our State have more than
$1,000 o year, and only some $4,000
earn between $4,000 to 5000 a year.
Because of this we are bound to have
great numbers of educated persons
who insist on being heard"