Women « War Work
A Plea for Neglected Homes and Kiddies
By Martha E. Warner
Author of ““Let’s Build a Home”
when I say that I believe that out of the many women
who are doing war work, those who are mothers of
little children could better serve their country by staying
in their own homes and carefully training those children by
planting in their minds the high principles and aspirations
that men live and die for.
As a well-known writer has said, “There are certain basic
truths in life that nothing has ever altered even by so much
as a hair’s breadth. There is no new way for a baby to be
born. There is no adequate substitute for a mother or a
mother’s love, or a mother’s incessant care and watchfulness.
No hand is so potent in shaping a child's character and de-
termining its destiny as its mother’s. Nor is there any place
in which a child can grow up into fine manhood or woman-
hood as it can in a peaceful, happy home."
‘Though wearing a snappy uniform, or working in slacks
for big money, may be more attractive than darning socks or
changing the baby, yet no woman can be a good mother who
will leave her children for work in shop or factory, however
great the need, because being a good mother is a one-woman
job, and one which cannot be delegated to others. Our
children need homes, and homes need mothers.
Now I would not have you think that by this I do not
approve of women answering their country’s call and taking
part in this war which has taken our husbands, our sons,
and our sweethearts; for I do approve most heartily.
And still more. Iam proud of these women—proud of the
WACS and the WAVES, the Red Cross workers, the
canteen workers, and the legion of women who are so suc-
cessfully replacing men in shops and factories, thereby prov-
ing to the world that American women are not slackers.
But what I am not proud of are the scattered homes where
children are left to shift for themselves. And just now there
are too many of these homes.
Not long ago I called at a house and a little four-year-old
boy answered my knock, solemnly announcing, “I'm the
Pear not many of my readers will agree with me
only one at home in this house.” I later learned that he spoke
the truth, for both parents were away from the place all
through the day, and day after day.
As I thought about it, I could not help but wonder what
the attraction was that could lure a mother away from her
home and her child, and I asked myself if it was the patriotic
spirit or the desire for big money.
It was young Mrs. White, the mother of two children,
who gave me an answer. She frankly said, “It’s the money
I am after. I am making $62.50 a week. Isn't that won-
derful? And just think of all the things I can buy for myself
and the children with all that money. My 10-year-old
Helen is perfectly capable of looking after Junior, so we get
along just fine!”
PAGE 16
Well, maybe they do, but the question, “Who
looks after Helen?” keeps arising in my mind. And
what of the babies who haven't even a Helen?
You may have read the story of Mrs. Blank and
little Sally, for the daily papers gave considerable
space to it. The family lives not many miles from
my home, and the story touched me deeply.
Mrs. Blank is an attractive, vivacious little
woman, whose husband is in the U. S. Navy.
Being fired with the spirit to do her part in helping
win the war, she entered one of the defense factories and
worked on the night shift.
Her hours were such that she could see that little four-
year-old Sally was safely tucked into bed before she left for
work, and in the morning she was home in time to help the
child dress and to serve her breakfast.
When questioned as to how she dared leave Sally alone 1n
the house all night, she laughed and said, there were neigh-
bors near, and besides Sally never got out of her bed in the
night.
But there came a night when she did. Nobody knows
why. It may be that she went to the stove to get warm, for
it was a bitter, cold night; but however that may be, in
some way her night clothes caught fire. Her screams brought
a passer-by; but before she was rescued, she was horribly
burned and died four hours after reaching the hospital.
Go where you may, and you will find little children being
neglected, and older ones getting their education from the
street and from questionable companions, at the risk of losing
their manners and their morals.
One of the vital ques-
tions facing mothers
today is this: “Am I
needed in the factory
more than I am in my
home?”? Read the ac-
companying article
and answer that ques-
tion for yourself.
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THE WATCHMAN MAGAZINE