Jim Kershner’s this day in history

From our archives, 100 years ago

Mrs. M.S. Lamereaux, of Chicago, addressed a group of local Sunday school teachers and identified the biggest problem facing women in 1914: anything modern.

“Modern styles of dress, the modern novel, modern amusements and business occupations are the greatest menaces to Christian womanhood,” intoned Mrs. Lamereaux. “The styles are outrageous and not in keeping with the higher ideals of Christian purity. There are four things that a girl must do. First, to guard the sacred fire of womanhood, which is never so threatened as now; live a great life and share a (illegible) womanhood; offer sacrifices by guarding against the temptations of life and secure the highest possible conception of a home and all that it means; keep her character at the apex of righteous living and life.”

Meanwhile, the district superintendent of Sunday schools for the Spokane and Coeur d’Alene Methodist Episcopal Sunday Schools castigated his fellow pastors.

“I am ashamed for the pastors of the Spokane district for their non-attendance here tonight,” he said.

From the social services beat: Officials in Whitman County were faced with a perplexing situation. There was a blind man in the county who was unable to care for himself and needed assistance.

The reason this was so perplexing? There was, and had never been, any poverty to speak of in Whitman County. Thus, there was no poorhouse and no other facilities for taking care of the poor and needy. County officials were looking into the issue.