WOMAN'S INFLUENCE.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 316, 1 October 1908, Page 3

WOMAN'S INFLUENCE.

During his v stay in Canada Ear] Grey has identified himself with' all the movements .which he believes to be for the good of the people. One of these is tho formation of women's clubs. Ho . believes that women, who have not the opportunity of meeting together in public, tend to become smallminded, and form themselves into exclusive cliques which are usually easily prejudiced against ono another. He thinks it. right that '.'the people' should seek to acquaint' themselves with those questions,on tho, right solution of which the happiness, virtue, 1 and strength of every city, and consequently of the whole nation, depend." This can only' be done by association in such Organisations as the modern club. ; As society is at. present. constituted, n woman is lqss apt to bo valued for her individuality than a man, yet her' power fd'r good if given free exercise ■' is probably greater. In his address to'the -Woman's Canadian club at Montreal, Earl Grey urged upon his hearers a spirit of earnest endeavour, and made some remarks which ought to bo of general interest. Ho said:— "Remember, women.iiot only are the most lovely of the Creator's works, but no influence is so great as theirs.'/.'ln overy age they have set the social In every age they have inspired men.ito bo heroes, or degraded them to the level'of the brutes. "You remembef the answer of the Roman matron, Volumnia,' who liiet the' sympathy for .the death of her son in battle thus:— 'Had I a dozen sons I had rather eleven dio nobly for their country than oiie voluptuously surfeif out'of action.' It was the' spirit of', women lilto Volumnia 1 which made the Romcn people unconquerable and irresistible. ■' • "May -I- say' -this without giving offence, that unless each one of you takes an interest both in tbs>.history of your country and in tho nituro-)bf : your country; unless you have one hand. Holding on to the traditions of tho past, ; and. both eyes' fixed upon the stars, you are not doing your duty to either your country or your king. "iVbat t?.n you do to help your country? V.'h",-if you women of Montreal would shut the di<ors of your houses against men who ( corrupt the soiimw of domestic, civic, and national- life, in the same way that you exclude Jrom your drawing-rooms men who cheat .'at cards; if you would refuse tho approyal of your smile to the man who hits below, the belt in.sport, business, or politics, then ,the star of Montreal would shino with a brilliancy which would make its radiance felt not only over Canada, but over tho United States."