The San Francisco call. [volume], June 05, 1910, Page 6, Image 6

About The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913

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WHAT AN AMERICAN GIRL
HAS DONE FOR THE CHILDREN
OF ENGLAND POOR
MARGARET McMULAN, WHO NOW COMES
TO VISIT HER NATIVE LAND, RENOUNCED
FORTUNE AND A STAGE CAREER THAT
SHE MIGHT FIGHT HARD BATTLES FOR
A NEW KIND OF REFORM— SHE HAS
REVOLUTIONIZED THE ENGLISH SCHOOLS
LONDON. May 10.
nISS MARGARET McMILLAN. an
American woman living in Lon
don, has deliberately turned
her back on wealth, social "dis
tinction and personal success in
order to espouse the cause of the
poor. Few women in the world, :n
these modern, practical times, \u25a0would
have had the courage to choose poverty
instead of riches, and to face the con
eequ«ncfs of so momentous a decision.
Though little hns been hear\l of nor
through the newspapers in America,
.Miss McMillan is today one of -the most
powerful figures in British public life.
She has literally fought har way up
t; gainst almost overwhelming odds, ac
complishing reforms— especially in re
lation to child life — which few politi
cians, even when backed by parties,
have attempted to carry out.
Miss McMillan will booh, visit Amer
ica to attend an importantfinternatlonal
congress at Washington, D. C. As the
remarkable story of her life has not
hitherto been tola, the writer recently
interviewed her at her home in Eng
land, 127 George Lane, Lewisham, near
London.
Though Mles McMillan was born In
Westchester county, >sew York, you
would scarcely suspect 'her of being an
: American.
; Both her parents hailed from the
land of the thistle. Her father emi
grated to the United States and took
up his residence In New York in the
early sixties, where he died shortly
after the civil war, leaving his family
in precarious financial circumstances,
having suffered heavy losses over the
war. The mother returned to her
father's house in Inverness, Scotland,
where, after a fevr years, she also died.
It was after her grandfather's death
and that of her mother that Margaret
McMillan found herself practically
alone in the world. She was only in
her sixteenth year and it was necessary
for her to seek her livelihood. She
soon went to Switzerland, and at 19
engaged in teaching pupils older than
herself. She acquired at an early age
a complete mastery of French and Ger
man.
Switzerland has always been the
horacof political refugees, and she met
quite a number of "advanced" radical
thinkers. Later, while still at an im
pressionable age, she came in contact
with one of the most remarkable lead
ers among women of that time — Louise
Michel. £he even taught in London
at a Bchool conducted by Mme. Michel
in Fitzroy square. The Russian gov
ernment had its eye on this Echool and
sent one of its most able detectives
to obtain a situation in order to learn
all that took place behind Its portals.
No one at the time suspected that the
humble teacher of French at this es
tablishment was the famous — or, rather,
infamous — spy, Coulon, through whose
efforts full reports were sent to Rus
sia. Ultimately the school was broken
f up and closed, mostly as the result of
this espionage.
Though In close touch with Russian
sufferers and learning the meaning of
poverty by actually mingling with the
dwellers in the abyss of London mis
ery. Miss McMillan was all th© while
earning her daily bread by teaching
in one of the wealthiest English fami
lies. Her knowledge of French, Ger
man and music, and her Euperior abili
ties, brought her services much In de
• tnamL
Ehe experienced no difficulty in mak
ing friends among the very rich, and
began to lead, as if were, a sort of
double life. She used to go down to
the docks and address the dock labor
ers, attended the Democratic club in
Essex street and even went to the
extent of addressing socialistic meet-
Ings in Hyde park. Possessed of a mag
netic personality, no one who knew her
failed to become instantly interested.
In- fact, it was through her contact
with a very wealthy woman at this
time that one of the most tragic epi
sodes of her life was enacted. This
• lady became deeply attached to Miss
McMillan. She had entered into her
service as secretary; but she had not
been with her employer long before
the two became close friends. Mar
garet McMillan did not attempt in the
least to conceal her views on social
questions; but however insistent and
earnest she appeared In the work of
reform, the titled lady, possessed of
immense riches, could not realize that
' her protege could really mean half of
what she advocated. In fact, possess
ing the enormous income of $300,000
a year, living In a palace and moving
in the highest circles of English no
bility, this woman could not conceive
of any one seriously championing the
cause of the poor 'and downtrodden.
Like the French princess, she failed to
understand why the people could not
cat cake if unable to find bread. Miss
McMillan's wealthy friend regarded her
aspirations as a sort of "fad," the nat
ural and evanescent enthusiasm of
youth, which, like the seasons, would
pass away. In fact, she treated the
whole matter in the light of a huge
joke.
Meantime, her rich patron saw a pos
sibly great future for Miss McMillan
and resolved to train her for the stage,
thinking perhaps that if the girl
achieved great personal success, it
would entirely erase from her mind all
her "silly ideas" of improving the con
dition of the poor. She was sent to
take lessons from a skilled voice pro
ducer, and for a year or two almost
lived in the company/of throat doctors
and singers. A famous actor trained
her for the stagehand predicted for her
a great career. Of tragic mold, she
essayed the gpfeat histrionic parts, and
those who saw her at this time looked
forward to. her becoming one of the
great stars of the age.
Encouraged by her rich friends, Miss
McMillan's progress as an amateur con
vinced her that fame and overwhelm
ing success only awaited the stretch
ing forth of her hand.
During all the time of her musical
and dramatic development, however, a
great struggle vras taking place in her
boul. She possessed a curious dual
personality, as it were. When acting,
she could feel her true self thrown ab
solutely aside, while 6he lived to the
life the part she was playing. This
peculiar psychic gift made her appear
to her friends as* one of the great com
ing actresses. On recovery of her nor
mal being, however, her thoughts al
ways reverted to the cause of the poor.
Her contact with such persons as
Louise Michel and other women who
were suffering for the. people drew her
more strongly every day toward the
sacrifice of wealth and fame.
At length the crisis approached in her
career. Her lady patron wished Mar
garet McMillan to sever her connection
with all her friends from the under
world of misery. She began to realize
that her protege was seriously in earn
est. All her prospective success on the
stage, all her genius and talent seemed
to be growing smaller in her aspira
tions and farther away from her heart.
In order to bring matters to a climax
the rich lady one day offered Miss Mc-
Millan a large sum and " promised to
leave her well off on her death. Thus
befriended, and possessed of undoubted
genius, the world lay. practically at her
feet. Miss McMillan does ; not deny
that the temptation was a great one.
Faced with the sudden necessity of
making up her mmd — always a-diffi
cult thing for any one to do under
such circumstances — she met the crisis
with an equally sudden determination.
She decided to give up her rich patron.
Packing her trunk- she suddenly de
camped 5 to Bradford in Yorkshire, leav
ing Park lane far behind. Naturally
correspondence followed between her
and her rich friend. Those who knew
Margaret McMillan, however, well"un
derstood that once having set her hand
to the plow she would never look back;
and she has remained in her chosen
work since' that day. The die was cast,
and, .finally, her wealthy friend ; in
formed her that she had decided to
"obliterate Margaret^forever froiu^her
memory."
Up to this time Miss McMillan had,
as it were, failed to attach herself to
any particular line of reform, : but once
arriving in Bradford among the-striv
ing working classes she. saw the way
clearly before her. < She . felt happier,
among the kindly, faces of the Bradford
common people than she .had ever, been
in the mansions of the rlclK
Miss McMillan had' not been, long In
Bradford when she. was asked to stand
for election to ". membership on^ the
school board. She had -never becn'on
a school board or ' occupied any. public
post, but acquiesced merely to please
har friends.. She was elected, though
at the very bottom of the poll; \u25a0 and
one of the labor memberg. was heard
to say-in her presence: - '.'Think, of: it;
that's all we got— as woman on -the
board!" -Before very long, -however,
even the most pessimistic 'labor, mem
ber recognized : in Miss ; McMillan a
splendid champion of his cause. .
The object In the mind'of Miss Me
. Millan at this time.was to alter entirely!
the basis of elementary education. -She
believed the actual system;to,be.found
ed on a wrong assumption, and that 1 it.
could not attain, real; success. .The
schools were attended by vast" numbers
of ill and. underfed .children.; She °* saw
the utter uselessness of education. while
the physical body, was "wholly neglect
ed. Miss, McMillan's father.: had been, a
great physiologist,' especially •in con
nection with; the study ; of? the brain;
and, strange to say, she "\u25a0 . was : able ;Mo;
take up and carry on \ his studies prac
tically at the . place - where'; tie > had * dis
continued; them.- The training; for Uhe
stage which she : had received at; the.
hands of her wealthy patron also
equipped her . for understanding. . the
elocutionary and' other: vocal.nfeeds, not
only of the.llttle ones, but,' above all; of
the teachers. Fortunately Justi at this
juncture < the school . physician j in< Brad
ford chanced ', to "-be j Dr. James Kerr,
who has- since become oneof the-great-:
,est authorities in Europe Yon child
physiology. . . .. v-'-v"
: With • the ' one • idea in her- mind — that
no 'proper education I was possible: save
on the "healthy -mind;; in ;•" a healthy,
body" principle, Margaret McMillan-be- !
came deeply interested; in Kerrr
He- was then only a part ;.time\ doctor,
with very restricted duties, : but ; even
so his work bore, 'the i stamp \ of Zorig
inality and power.'-Miss ; - McMillan
spent much* time ; with' him. ;v; v \u25a0,".' '
1 The socialists V.weren even; then
manding \u25a0 the ' state feeding "of : necessi-,
tous .children in 'the schools,; but; Mar-*
garet McMillan had. a; larger; idea> than
that. She = stood • forj medical
tion, through iwhich: every; physical bail
ment of the- child ".would: receiveVatten
tion,"' and; this, ; of v course,'^ included;
proper feeding.. >- Feeding '\u25a0 was Ho; her
onlyja mere detail. '^No: one' has j worked
harder
was ;fed,-r that? lts Jteeth i 'were
looked after.V that lits h'eyes: should She
treated; and .that* every ;, possible; medl-.
calf aid : : should^ be \given-f-and\ given-f-and^ yet;? all
this- was ; ; : only'-- ,- a'-. : pjreliminarj'A*x : She
claimed '\u25a0: for ' the ; children" of Mhe "\u25a0. poor
all the physicatTcare- that -rich- parents
are able; to give their children;- but,
beyond" that, is- 'the' new;^'education
founded upon physiological .scienco.
For'all.this she asked. '•'-.:\u25a0 : .-~ -^ -
The -antagonism* met with • by Miss
McMillan—especially at \u25a0 the 4 hands .'of
one or two" very . influential .: members
"of 'the .clergy: who v held 'places lon the
? school, boardr— would ' havej discouraged
any ; other * woman. \u25a0 She : was - denounced
up and Vdown the country as "'. a "revo
lutionary." -it was . said i that she"de-,
; llberately • encouraged S£j the shiftless ;
-population ,' to - transfer .'all : the \u25a0: burden
of parental: responsibility" to the.shoul--
of the : state; -but- this* opposition,
only: stimulated ? her" to •\u25a0 renewed effort,:
and she worked on. for years. 1 - ;
Arid;then the Boer ; war came 1 : and
Miss McMillan's work 1 received a power- !
\u25a0ful' seconding -In the, exposure ,o, of -the J
.terrible condition ot physlclal' unfit- ;
:ness evinced by the British soldiers In
that* conflict.'!; This fact 'gave -rise -to
the' lnterdepartmental '.lnquiry: on'phy
'. eical I training,-, one v of ; the ;,mpst;' bene- :
.flcial .lnvestigations of i- modern v, times.
This investigation awakened the na
tion/ .:":'""\u25a0:*•-\u25a0\u25a0:- ' ~ ;\u25a0•?-*' \u25a0'; ;. '- ' "-i
'.Miss McMillan; was called upon; to^
speak^atjthe international -congress, on*
Hygiene \ in ; 1907 ;"-; but <long , before— in \u25a0
/1890-^throughVher initiative, "thotnrst
>"clearislng ': committee? ; was : formed • by
a = school-board -in England and; the fol- .
lowing year, the first: school ;baths^were
; builtJ ?- Finally, ; her c rosulted 'ln
; a ; complete, revolution " in ' Infant, school :
j management",;: and* hygiene. V* -; She ? .con-"
ducted j a r .ylgorous *campaign \u25a0 against;
i child '. labor ; arid : spoke;' at {a j depu tation \
upon Xthls i subject g-. which (.waited v upon
'Mr/Asqulth; the present^prlme 'minister, -
,in-:1895.y \u25a0.-:.,.\u25a0:'::\u25a0,,:\u25a0;-; v4,.;r; '.; ;'-.\u25a0 *
'; ;; She jbelieyed that • talent is common—
• not/rar'e'*as r is' "supposed. 5 . That V even,
igeniusHs .within*. the -gras'pf of mariyfr
* that -.it* Is s. ignorance hiot? weakness r^or,
?, bankruptcy] thatikeepsj the? manyj down. •
"But Jshe: knew ;that i,tlie ? niethods \ of ; the
! past .would r have .' to i be ? giyen'.'r.p— and
? a?new >line -followediboldly. -'•". The first
step i was ; to; get -a'j medical? department, i
the second: to.sweep.out.discaKeby the
aid of a staff of doctors . and nurses.
Only.-" after " these . sieps {were taken
could pedagogy/ be enriched by a-new
influx of ; knowledge of a phyniologlcal
kind. For months she bombarded: the
press .and platforms With'^ these ; pro
posals:- ';''_' - : \',. -\V" ; :-: '•' «„\u25a0
, At- last in'the spring of 1906 the new.
education-bill appeared, but, in. icthere
was |no mention : at : all even of medical
inspection: "This was a. blow., \u0084 She
approached^ the ; labor party,'.' orcanized
at;« the; suggestion sof Mr. ; Kelr; Kardle,
M. P.T a deputation consisting- of med
ical men and .teachers', representatives
of the front rank: She then id^w^up
a ;preclsiand" presented it to the min
ister for . education. Keir. .Hardie .in-,
troduced this I deputation . at "which Sir
.Victor ' Horsley. spoke,' and BJso .. the'
president >of the national; union -of
teachers, iT.^-tP.'i '» Sykes. ;• ,The : clause
was ' Inserted, '. and- the duty of ; providing
for medical \u25a0 Inspection : was placed upon
the -statute -in 1907: . ._
In -'order,- to; accomplish hsr objects,
Miss McMillan; has kept up ; a. persistent
propaganda < crusade," < incessantly i. \u25a0 \ ap- .
pealed^tOiVaiious governmentarauthor
ities: and forced, members of parlJament
to ; take san in T this .work.; :By
her of \u25a0•; publicity conuueted
through .rithe press and \-by > means jof
herj'." three v'books, ; "Labor , and;' Child
hood," J "Early Childhood," '/and : "Edu
cation the Imagination,'! V she
has /exerted ;:_a \~ powerful % Influence « on
public" opinion. ...These v books fare ' now
recognized 'Jby : i educational^ authorities
throughout *\u25a0) the « world. 1 ; > " : • \u25a0'..\u25a0*
.Miss! McMillan ) only within 'the last
year; or*.; two s has-been Table 'to -witness
a . partial jreallzatl on of :her;lß!years"of
'strenuous) life ?..work;^ One' of the "most
I gratifying <fesults (of /her pioneer iVbrjk
.is"; the j splendid* school'; clinic'estabUahed
at Bradford, the]; homes
efforts:.^ Here ;l3;r6oms:are.t6dayj given
up to-child; examination ! in j connection
with the elementary . schools; these
rooms . include two dentistries, three
doctors*, "rooms, a nursery,, a waiting ;
room and ' even an' X ray room. The
Bradford cllnlc- ; has been a brilliant
success. During the ' last year more
than -4, 000 little patients were treated .
and the great majority cured, while
consumptive cases were'visited outside
and the parents' taught how to battle
with the great white plague. '
Speaking on this last point. Miss Mc-
Millan said: "Mothers now come to the
clinic before their children are really
111. The school clinic has not weakened
but has enormously extended the area
of. parental responsibility. It has
awakened a. new^ motherhood In moth- \u25a0
ers. .It has caused them to- take up
burdens hitherto ignored. It has made
them care for their affected children,
because they see the community deems
them ' valuable. A The clinic! has created
anew spirit of citizenship in the homes \u25a0
of the ;poor.''
Miss McMillan Js now preaching the
need ;for 'health- centers- and- clinics
throughout the length and breadth of
England, and various municipalities are
taking her advice and /establishing
school : clinics. According -to figures
which she recently quoted : at a public
meeting,.; these .clinics -cost very -little
to maintain.;: A small school clinic can
be t kept open 'I daily .at' a cost of only
51,000." r lt is more economical, however,
toopenailarge one, and Miss McMillan
regards such work. as one of the best
public investments. "A clinic; has been :
established in the East end of London
by help ? from -'Joseph * Fels and others.
It is already doing excellent work.
" "There ~ is • no. \ wealth 'like- human
wealth,? "said Miss 1 : McMillan. "Take
care of your children. ;' Prepare delib
erately , for the future, 'so your
children >wlll not become :burdens on the
community.". \u25a0 England wif I \u25a0 not be ' saved
by. her. Dreadnoughts and \ her ,navy, bu t
by *her : sons ;and "her- daughters/ They
The San Francisco Sunday Call
who help to prepare a healthy nation
\u25a0will have done well for their country."
The splendid work inaugurated by
Miss McMillan is rapidly developing
throughout England. The board of
education has now a separata medical
department as a permanent portion of
Its worlc/hnd school medical officers
have been appointed to 307 out of 328
local educational areas. Over 1,000
'doctors assisted by 300 nurses are al
ready at work in England and Wales.
Though very thankful that a begin
ning has been made. Miss McMillan
knows that it is only a beginning. She
believes that only the preliminary step
to greater things has been taken. She
is not— strange to say — really inter
ested In the child, simply as such, but
only as a means toward greater ends.
By fostering the proper care of th©
child, and above all the adolescent, she
feels that the development of the race
toward Its own proper heritage will b©
accomplished. Life should contain far
more for the common mass of human
ity than it does today, though not
necessarily more ease or Idleness. She
does not entertain any false notion
about bringing the people into a "fool's
paradise" of sweet doing nothing. But
she looks to arouse the race to a higher
realization of its own capabilities and
to enable, the working classes to re
spond to the stimulus of a great ideal.
She believes that wondrous powers He
dormant in the "common" people an'J
that all they need i 3 proper develop
ment to bring them to greater realiza
tion.
AH things considered. It might be
said with truth that Margaret McMil
lan Is one of the greatest social forces
at work In the world of education today.
In Eigland. Germany, France, Switzer
land, Belgium and elsewhere, her nama
and books are a household word amongr
educationalists. She is closely in touch
with the British minister of education
and keeps an argus eyed watch over
"the trend of events. Recognized now
as a tremendous fighter, Margaret Mc-
Millan Is no longer Ignored- by the pow
ers that be. Her advice to British
municipalities, given in her stirring
speeches. Is nearly always weighed:
very seriously by school authorities
"throughout the country.
In her home life. Margaret McMillan
strikes the note of simplicity sounded
already by such leaders as William
Morris and others. She Is closely In
touch with all the social leaders of the
day; and is still the esteemed friend of
those who have taken so dteep an inter
est in the development of Russia. Not
far from her humble home In London
lives Prince Peter Kropotkin, the great
Russian writer and exile, the Influence
of whose work has been, second only to
that of Tolstoy. He and Miss McMillan
are close personal friends.
It is somewhat singular that Miss
McMillan has been able to accomplish
her work with so little public notice;
but this may be attributed to the Innate
modesty of the genuine worker
, When in America. Miss McMillan in
tends to. interest 1 herself in the ques
tion of child labor. In that country "?he
S !! em *?l sreatly Bur Prised when 'told
that there were upwards of 2.000 000
child factory hands in the wondrous