The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1885-09-12 00:00:00

WOMAN'S INFLUENCE.

Whatever may be thought of the way in which
women are destined to exert their influence in the
future, the Spectator thinks, no one with any sound
judgment will deny that year by year they are
destined to exert a greater and greater influence
over the course of affairs in the most civilised
countries of Europe. If it were only by virtue of
the new education they are obtaining, and obtaining
with the hearty goodwill of almost all wise men,
that must be- the consequence. When women know
as much of the course of affairs as men know, they
will certainly have almost as much to do with
_

guiding it; tind, even before that comes about, they
will exert an influence more or less proportioned
to their knowledge—sometimes more than their
knowledge justifies, sometimes less. We do not
doubt for a moment that we have quite recently
seen, and shall see more and more as time
goes on, the result of that greater influence.
Causes have already assumed importance to which it
is likely enough that men would not, so soon at all
events, have attached that importance; other causes
are already being treated in a very different manner
from any in wnich men, left to themselves, would
have treated them; nay, feminine spokesmen are con-
stantly found venturing on exhortations and menaces
which, if they were used by men, would lead to very
serious remonstrances, and perhaps to positive penal-
ties, but which, when used by women, pass unchal-
lenged. Among the chief influences which women
are likely to exert over the course of affairs, the
Spectator thinks they will often stimulate most use-
fully the higher sentiments of men, and sometimes,
no doubt—for women are not free from the distor-
tions of feeling to which men are subject—their
lower sentiments, Big so far as mere feeling
is concerned, the women who concern themselves
with general affairs will probably improve the
moral attitude of men. On the other hand, for a
long time to come at least, they will . certainly
often obscure the problems with which they
deal by their impatience of the difficulties and
obstacles which beset all human efforts. They will
bedor ignoring all considerations, however serious,
which appear to require delay and deliberation before
any important undertaking. They will overcloud the
wiser course with a mist of feeling, and refuse to see
the most conspicuous consequences in the purity of
their motives. We expect from the new influence
which women will exert a greatly increased fervour
of sympathy for which is right, and a greatly in-
creased risk of plunging into actions that are at once
well intentioned and practically wrong. We shall
have a great deal less scrupulousness and a great deal
more enthusiasm; a great deal less hadtation in
calling a spade a spade, and a great deal more scorn
for those who are anxious to point out the distinction
between a spade and a trowel; a great deal less dis-
po.ition to extenuate what is plainly bad in motive
as well as in consequence, and a great deal more in
disposition to extenuate doing evil that good may
come of it—in a word, a great deal less calmness
and discrimination in what we do, and a great deal
more impulse and emotion.

WANTED TO KNOW.—Whether those young ladies
who use very expensive-perfumes are not wanting in
common scents? Whether, although a :cake may,
sometimes, be tipsy, a glass of wine must always be
drunk? Whether, when one loses the last 'bus, it is
a good plan to get into a train of reflection? Whether
a coat that is not paid for is a bad habit to get into?
Whether, when the spider left the ark, did he walk
or take a fly? Whether even the most insignificant
little women do not look forward hopefully to
Hymen?