WOMEN AND PATRIOTISM.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 510, 18 May 1909, Page 3

WOMEN AND PATRIOTISM.

"; ; A:/weil-timed..arl'icle"on,;t'hi3' topic, in:the ::. .^atidnaVßeview," '.by 'Mrs.' Stanley■ Barry, ; ■•: combines :the' :itierit. of.-' brevity. :with good : : 'senseand solid counsel. , ' Mrs. Barry 'sets-put.. ■•■• by-icalling the. attention, of ! both soxesto the .: very'Eoriousi problem of how; the decline of ■■''' - home life'iihthe Mother: Country can.be most vi i e?^nally-;wresl^;.'-and- : lihat' : deoline. : 'is' no'toriously:'taking place in ithis'-parfc of .the ' '•■'. world, 'attributable,;. as she believes, "to: the -.",;luxunousness"'and selfishness of■ the'present : "generation, l ■' allied to' a-'.restlessness • which ; .threatons.to.undermine the physical stability of;the-nation""'.''.Vßut,-.addressing' herself to her ownXsex.: more particularly, she accuses' '"■\. themsof -hot Realising', theresponsibilities which >attach , ;tb: womanhood,'■ alleging that ;. "if they.prized their.homes ■'more, lived less Vluxurionslyj'in ..them, : spent less'money-.'/on- . ■■their. drese ; and outside, amusements, * and de- :,'; voted more.;.time. to ; inspire. their, menkind, : : the .utfer,:!lack .'of .patriotic., feeling ..which- is. ;;■ born .of'Unsatiated thirst. :for pleasure would I ;.. not.ne'ei 't6;be .reckoned,with as a growing.' '■'-'■ : danger in lowering : the' prestige of our' coun- : try.' ;;<; Unfortunately,,.the;--voice."'of "duty, is; .: : : too of ten itev'er listened 'to, .'.while -the femin-;:ine'"'ideal-;pf-'(human lif'e; ; in ■ very, many,-cases ■'■.■' .is- to prowd .into; it. tha greatest. amount of ': enjoyment',it;is .capable: pf; contaiaing, and ••■-,g01f,: hockey,-bridge,'..arid butrof-doorf sports ..'■:, of;'all .kinds are. pursued..;fe-:a'.'-".jrasieful'aiid' -.- Ridiculous : ; excess,"..some'.'of,.wliich,;. : aß it .. is ;" observed; ,may develop', their limbs, but not : : ;their,minds. , . Mrsi. Barry:condemns our'edu-.vocational-'.'methods, .and!,askß,.. l ,'!Wha.t girl- on •- {-leaving school : ,has'.;tho!faintest.. idea .of; how ;-. i.ioimßriage a' house .or, a husband?" .'.Hence, , :■:■: when: dom'estio.i;troubles; arrive,.'she generally f; : becbmes ; to all her friends ; ! . andi.a -nuisance to her,; relatives."-;A: : ;tho-. :';i'roughly..-, domestio"-. .training".' is. .what ; ;tW ' writer; insists, on -as 'absolutely, essential;: for .':/:,' wome n ,; m'i.aU;-ranks of'. society. V,Patnotism' .: ;is'['likewise .necessiiry ';of. ; inculoation ; 'iri-girls'- '.' schbolsv as';;elsewlVere,-i aiid the 'pupils should be'tenghV;that ; "they-might/be', alsplendid '■; ..help, -.theiT-'opuntry^in;.time/of .war',' :..,knowing tho elements r oi 'surgery arid'iii'ediuy:':.:!9ne::;M:;the'iT/b'rbthe^;m'ighi.!bo'in,v'acqiuApg. .'■ she';;knowledge; of -how to ;defend t&irihomes. -to p'iit' .■■'.■:;-'»ve^-.'Birl ; care, through , :■■ .an.-ambulance- course, so thj;t she may acquire first aid.". ;- ;'■■■■:■