JPART TWO
SOCIETY SECTION
The Omaha Sunday Bb$
PART TWO
SOCIETY SECTION
VOL. XLVIII NO. 30.
J-
OMAHA, SUNDAY &ORNING, JANUARY 5, 1919.
SINGLE COPY FIVE CENTS.
omatis
iti the
oriel II I
Women Have Made Good Everywhere Now
Will They Return to Judge Boxes ?
V
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tiule of partriotism, I believe. These
women went into the positions of
men who went to war as a mat:r
of patriotism. Some of the return
ing soldiers will not be satisfied
with the old order of things and will
want to perform bigger things than
before. In cases where men do not
wantthe jobs they should be given
to o.men who really ..need them.
Of 'course, I am in favor of giving
eVery soldier his job back."
Lovely sentiment! but will wo
men in positions be "nlike every
other class of htimai.- beings and re
linquish that which she has earned
by right of all the laws of society
and business?
Many women who have taken up
war work are amazed at their own
progress. They did not realize that
women could accomplish so much
until they were buckled into the
harness and started uphill with the
load Red Cross, or some other or
ganization, as the driver. They
found that life held quite a bit of
interest out in the "cold, cruel
world," and that the day really af
forded time enough to attend to
both the home and outside obliga
tions. Women who earn money, we fear,
will be even more reluctant to give
up their positions. They have sensed
opportunity will they hold fast in,
what seems to them, self-defense?
This year undoubtedly marks the
dawn of a new era of endeavor for
womankind, and that is why the
whole world is agog with anticipa
tion, unrest and misgivings as to
where this change will lead the
mothers of the race and into what
civic melee we may find ourselves
when the soldiers have returned
from battle.
Because this problem is such u
momentous one, we wish to know
the sentiment of our readers and let
ters received by the society ed'tor
will be given space in the columns of
The Bee from time to time. Pub
lic sentiment is the biggest fa-:tor
in bringing about the proper result.
What will it be?
SCAT! Sho-o-o-!
Get thee behind me !
Go away back and sit down!
This is the order of the day for women, according to
many of the leading theorists in serial welfare work. And
they are not alone in their belief that women, who so brave
ly came forth and shouldered the burdens which had be
longed to men, should retire to the fudge box and pink teas.
From every walk of life we hear this subject discussed
pro and con. The returning soldiers must be taken care of
and we are wondering what the answer will be to this ques
tion, paramount in the minds of millions of people, not only
in America, but in all parts of the world.
rir(n,-.n,'c(i ,i;.f. ,,. .. :,i, i-1.. : ... I
about the attitude of women in this
new era as is proven by their pen
and ink creations. Thomas, on the
Detroit News, pictures a . maid in
feminalls, cap and hammer, saying
to the returning soK'Vr: "This is
my job and I am gog to hang
on to it." The title of his cartoon
is "The Girl I Left Behind Me."
Fontaine Fox takes a lighter and
more humorous view of the situa
tion." His picture depicts a deso
late home but a hilariously happy
woman out in the world of politics
and big business.
A Blasted Prediction.
Let us back up a bit in our recol
lections to the time when one of
our famous orthopedic surgeons
predicted a legless race, a few hun
dred years hence, because of the laz
iness which impregnated all classes
since the entrance of automobiles,
street cars and a dozen other means
of transportation which renders
"pedal-locomotion" unnecessary. Our
lack of phisical exerefse he said,
marked the beginning of a sad end
when men would die untimely
deaths from indigestion, high blood
pressure and paralysis; our women,
according to this surgeon, were
scheduled to pass on, through lack
or interest in life, otherwise known
to us as ennui. '
But now we are convinced that
this war is good for one more
thing. It has driven the men to
exercise and oty; women to work. It.
has given the men something to
think about other than the grabbing
of the almighty dollar our women
are relieved of the monotony of
merely consuming.
- And one needs but to talk with
the Women who have been produc
ing during these war times to learn
that pretty clothes, nor ease, nor
luxury, nor leisure suffices. There
is scmething inborn, in most women,
which spurs them on to become
producers, once they have had a
taste of it.
How often, before the. war, we
liei.rd, "Oh, she is only a woman,"
and many similar remarks which be
spoke plainly the sentiment of the
masses toward women. Now there
are new words to the same sweet
tune'and they tell a different story.
Such men as C. W. Baron (in the
Wall Street Journal), says that the
r was won by women; that vic
toiy would have been impossible
but for their efforts; "that 5,000.000
women took the places,, of 6,000,000
men in England alone, which proves
their efficiency.
For Women Workers.
Miss Agnes Nestor, prominent
among the women's trades unions,
believes that the taking care of
women workers is as essential as
caring for the returning fighters,
but Miss Elizabeth Maloney, vice
president of the International Ho
tel 'i'rades alliances, says that she
is convinced that it is the duty of
every woman. who does not need
the job she holds to relinquish it in
favor of some woman, or returnrog
soldier, who does need it.
But, since we know that "the sur
vival of the fittest" is the strongest
law of nature, some of us sit back
an. smile, awaiting the outcome.
Why?
Because we know that the
wealthy business man does not re
tire and leave his business to some
younger man who may be just as
efficient as he, and who needs he
position. No, indeed! he goes to
his office as long as he can walk
and then, perhaps, he is taken to
his revolving chair and roll-top desk
by his attendants. He does not re
tire and give the place to another
so long as he can hold on to it.
Here is our first point quite clearly
demonstrated.
Another point to be considered:
Many women remember with what
reluctance the wage earners dolei
out the dimes and complained be
cause some business woman was
more prepossessing, wore better
clothes and looked less careworn.
It is one thing to be the "queen of
the home" and aonth'er to be tre
drudge, with no recompense and n5
praise. Toft many women have
found that the "queen" is merely an
illusion.
Beautiful Sentiment, but (?).
Mrs. Mary V. Halas. state super
intendent of the women's section of
the United States employment serv
ice, one of those" closest in touch
with the labor situation in Chicago
offices, stores, mercantile establish
ments, industries and like, sug-
i gested a national movement among
women workers in behalf of those
who need employment
"I would have every women
whose .fortunes are such that she
may not need ( the job she holds
ask herself 4his question: 'Do I
really need this job'," said Mrs.
Halas.'
"In Chicaeo alone there are many
"women and girls who are holding
excellent positions and, although
thev do not need to work for their
living, they do not intend to relin-
Women Who Strive
For Recognition
In All Lines.
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Eight women are included among
the new county school superinten
dents iiKNew Mexico.
It is proposed to hold a world
conference of working women ir
the near future, probably in Paris.
The total of women voters in the
states having full, presidential or
primary suffrage has now reached
1 1.010.064.
Gertrude Elliott, the American
actress, has made a notable success
as manager of one of London's lead
ing theaters.
The Texas Federation of Wo
men's Clubs has gone on record
as opposed to the sale of German-
j mads goods in the United States.
I Lady Rhondda, who demands that
! women be given the light to sit in
Parliament, is the activs head of
Welsh coal mines and other indus
tries employing upwards of 50,000
men.
Miss Wilma Crowley of Ellens
burg, Wash., walked 31 miles in less
than seven hours on a wager with
her brother, who bet that she
couldn't do it.
Charming Hostess Becomes War Workerf!
And Wears Silver Bars
sat
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She Can Never Again Be Indifferent to Human Suffering and Declares That Life
Is Not Complete Without Both Society and Service
G1
LEAMING silver bars decorate j their homes is for one woman defin-
the motor corps uniform of a i itely answered. Mrs. McDeini.on,
charming Omaha matron. I who has given herself unreservedly
These insignia of rank, which mark to the great cause of humanity, is
Mrs. T. H. McDearmon as a first i confident that she will never be sat-
t
lieutenant, mean far more than her
"commission" in this feminine
branch of the great war machine,
for those who are cognizant with
her work during the past months
know that she has made "service"
the watchword of her days.
Always ready, night or day, sun
shine or storm, Mrs. McDearmon
holds the record for the most faith
ful work in the Red Cro'ss motor
corps. Her heart and soul has
been in her task and she says that
this service has given her a new
angle on humanity and that she
stands ready and willing to go night
or day to h,elp those in need. One
week just before the holiday time
Mrs. McDearmon's record shows 20
hours and a quarter given to help
others. Her large car has ever
been at the service of the soldiers
aside from her Red Cross driving,
and she has left the theater many
times to hurry to meet a troop
train that the boys passing through
might have a little pleasure.
The question of ' whether war
Workers who have done great things
will ever be contented with only the
domestic duties which await them in
isfied to attend to home tasks alone,
for she believes there is plenty of
time for both. She is the most
gracious of hostesses and enjoys the
little gaieties of life, but the serious
work which has claimed her hedit
TV
during this time for the poor of thi
city who were afflicted with the diii
niitn- r t t n ni in 9 ni a it it m '
condition ami tood ana meaicinc p
must be brought to them daily. The j
soup kitchens conducted by various J;
organizations would not'havf tc
complished their results '..ithout
these messengers who distributed
the edibles to the sufferers. The
Visiting nurses, ministering angels
for so long has left an imprint j during this period, found these cars
which will never be eradicated.
As there was no one who was
near and dear who could bear the
standard oMiis country into shell
swept battlefields, Mrs. McDearinon
felt it incumbent upon her to enter
the front line at home and she his
won the privilege of wearing two
silver bars by dint of the most ardu
ous labor. ' It is because of the days
spent at the wheel of her car as she
drove hither, and thither on er
rands of mercy that Mrs.' McDear
mon has resolved new. again to
live entirely in the seclusion of Uer
home.
"Words are inadequate when one
tries to estimate the amount of good
done by the faithful workers who
wear the uniform of the Red Cross
motor corps. During the terrible
epidemic of influenza which held the
city in its grip for so many weeks
the cars belonging to these skilifu'
drivers were in constant demaii
Mrs. McDearmon worked untiringly
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and their obliging owners an inval
uable aid in conducting them from"
one part of the city to the other.
With tin tlinnclif nf Haiiffpr tn br P
self, Mrs. McDearmon gave her
services unstintingly, as she has 1
done in other branches of the Red "j
Cross work. The wounded men
who find the long trips across-coun- 1
try so irksome have been given a
breath of fresh air and refreshing '
glimpse ; of the great outdoor it
through the kindness of Mrs. Mc- t
Dearmon and the call of the boys
in khaki has always found a ready ,
response from this patriotic womati. -
The funds of the great orRanixa- J
tion of mercy, the Red Cros.s must
be maintained and through the ef
forts of the -motor corps many dol
lars have been added to the treas
ury which keeps this great move
ment progressing. The work ha
often been tedious and trying. -tM
calls have come when other eir
sraeements were pressing, but Mrs
McDearmon sacrificed all pleasures i
ror the work to which she had ded- p
icated herself. M
Never can this first lieutenant i j
the motor corps be indifferent to
suffering, and though the war is
won and peace sheds its golden
light over the world, the unfortu
nate are always to be found. Mrs.
McDearmon will continue her la
bors, which are lightened by love,,
for she brings cheer and gladn'r
into lives darkened by'suffering
sorrow. - It
TVio Comn T.ihmrv V
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r a tio Inncriiil.fnr Hrinlcimr nlarr.
TVii snrinp in burnliuz sands, i ;
Where men fling down on fevereV
face
And scoop with avid
own on leverec $
vid hands. I
)iise. tie Ljjutlwf
They Came They Are Here But Where
Will They GoThese Women?
1? Photos
by He
Lutxizte
-
Where, oh, where are the clinging-vine women who led lives of idleness and whose
grandness grew greater with each new malady?
Where are the women whose conversations were monopolized by petty details of
household management and who made social calls for the purpose of relating the perils of
their latest surgical operations?
Where are.the baby stares that bespoke blank minds and
little understanding when current topics or modern problems
were being discussed?
From what rank and file have all these competent,
healthy, splendid women emerged and what will become of
them during these days of reconstruction ?
Now that the war is over, where will they go from
their daily lives of service to humanity, so thoroughly enjoyed
during the swinging of the social and economic pendulum
during these days of struggle ?
From every corner of the earth the "mere women" have
come forward under the yoke of patriotism. And under this
yoke they have learned much. They know tjie glory of work
and the greatness of being in the big fight ftir progress. Now
that the soldiers are returning, will the wage earners be will
ing to give up this life of production, economic independence
and world service?
Public sentiment will do much to settle the question and
The Bee wishes to hear from everyone who has an opinion on
the subject. From time to time space will be given in these
columns for a battle ground of public opinion and both men
and women should give so serious a problem great thought.
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Ut-is the treasure-house, JejajpS'
Keveaiea io catccr eyev
And clever brains quick to desigij
New keys to Paradise.
It is salvation! Men at large,;
To us the camn-man looks.
Reward him then; your debt
charge
urn his longed-tor DOOK!
Amy Sherman BridgmaJi
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