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The craftsman
(November 1916)
Demeter's daughters: the women of the field, pp. 116-122
Page 116
A''
DEMETER'S DAUGHTERS: THE WOMEN OF
THE FIELD I--.
IN a great call goes up from the earth for help along
e most fundamental reaches of life, the answer is
most invariably made by the women of the world.
'l1n1 h m-b-hl'whn,-rk,-%1 x a"7,'O b0 1 - ,A ik^ A.-
urish and support mankind in the gr
rough motherhood woman has learned ti
the body, the care of the soul; she has lei
there are times when she must comfort mankind, she know
arms must be strong to lift, her breast must succor, that
must bring courage. She has learned how to leave hei
luxury, of peace, of idleness and move out over the world wi
in her hands. It is no effort for her to turn back and plou;
and stand in the wheatfield with the winnow in her hand.
is today, as she has been from the beginning of the world,
Daughter.
We had almost forgotten just what her place in the i
how essential she was, how gracious and gentle and sacrif
this terrible war swept over all of Europe, and then sui
found in England the woman who had been clamoring for the vote
taking as a badge of opportunity, the Red Cross, giving her life i
ladiv and eheerful~lv to the men who had refu]sed her the vote: we
found in France the peasant women whom we had g
of as dull or heavy or unintelligent, lifting the grea
burden of the nation; we found the women from the
Germain opening their houses in Paris when the wo
back from the Marne-we found them gladly remaini
when, at the beginning of the war, they were counting
fore the German occupation. In Italy, in Russia, in
mania, in Servia, all over the great sorrowing far
Europe the women have turned back to the ploug
daughters are once more doing their father's work.
One wonders if, after this holocaust of agony is
ever again be necessary for women to ask for what tl
in the past "their rights," if they have not established
equal terms with all men of all ages. The great spirit
this entire conflict has flowed out from the souls of
the warring nations. I do not mean that there has
digious courage, great valor, splendid accomplishme
men who have faced death valiantly; but these men ha
the great joy and glory of conflict. It is not so easy
soul through monotony and sorrow and heavy sacrifi&
daughters bear no Iron Cross.
i16
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