Don't Want Hubby, Say Million English Maids

1920

Surplus English Women Not Hunting Mates.

Scorn Suggestion That Official Action Be Taken to Relieve Shortage of Men.

LONDON, England. — A statement by Dr. R. Murray Leslie that England has 1,000,000 "too many" women and that something ought to be done about it, has aroused angry and resentful comment among the prominent feminists. They say that the modern woman, with her diversified interests, is not a husband hunter.

Radical views on the subject were expressed by Miss Norah Marsh, editor of National Health and an authority on eugenics. She contends that a new social and moral code is growing up which will solve the question.

Encourage Parenthood

"The important thing to consider is whether, with 1,000,000 unmarried women, England can maintain her population at its natural state of increase," said she. "We want parenthood encouraged only among the fit. A large number of these surplus women, from a physical and mental standpoint, would make admirable mothers.

"We are now in a state of transition and our whole moral code is under review. It may be that the day will come when a new social code will help us solve the problem of these surplus women."

"For forty years feminists have declared that marriage ought not to be the whole end of existence for women," said Miss Underwood, secretary of the Women's Federation League. "Now, in view of women's wider interests, they look upon marriage only as a minor incident in their lives.

"It is not the want of opportunity for marriage which makes a woman discontented, but her unequal economic position compared with that of men. When she secures equality with men professionally and industrially and in every other direction, you will not have any discontented women. A well developed woman needs activity, not protection."

Back to the Land

It is contended that war improved the type of woman in the British Isles, and many persons interested in the matter are opposing emigration of British girls.

Among them is the Marchioness of Townshend, who said:

"A far better way than emigration would be to attract the girls to the countryside, where they would not all be herded together in towns. They could live better lives."

Dr. Leslie has suggested that the morals of the modern girls are lower than those of their grandmothers. This charge brought a vigorous response from Mrs. Pember Reeves, well known author, who said:

"I do not believe that girls today are any worse than their grandmothers were. To ship them wholesale to the colonies would be absurd. Better drown the girls if they are such a menace and such a nuisance."