Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1868-05-29
LITERARY WOMEN.

towed upon a woman the gift Of "ex.
pressing beautiful thoughts in graceful
words" is it proof lilo has kept from
hor tho power of being and. doing all
things else? 1t would seem SO, from
tho oft-repoated remarks we hear OF
literary women, es wives, mothers,
and iousckcepcrs.
because out Of tho depths of her
soul thcro gush words that lovers, hus-
bands, and gives quote rs tho fondest,
deepest expression of their own atroc-
tion, she is voted incapable Of loving
worry much. Because Of tho tender
ness of her heart, she can fold in
words of music that mothers all over
the land sing 20 their little children
for d lullaby, she is doomed untitled
for maternity. Because her hand can
wicld tho pen, it is thought to be use
lens with tho needle. In fact, because
she has genius enough TO write song,
an essay, or book, it is sufficient
proof with many, that sho cannot
know enough to keep aroom in order,
cook a dinner, or even give directions
to Il servant; and for this reason, "she
ought not TO marry."-
If this werc true, If God, when He
| places this one gift in the hands Of
women, makes her 4 Ounce in every
thing else, then sho ought not to bring
upon borsclf duties which she has no
power to meet. But let us know first
if it be true. One says, "My own oh.
servution has confirmed this judg-
ment. A literary woman onco invited
me to visit her Tho invitation was
accepted, and upon entering her house
tho most disagrceub!o confusion met
my astonished gaze." Tho question
was then settled. But my dear friend
l beg you to think if you never saw q
house in confusion, whose keeper was
not literary? l doubt not that if this
woman had never written q line in
her life, her house would have looked
just as badly. You SAID, at is because
ehe is literary" and not as you should
have said, alt is because she is an Ut.
tidy woman" just as peoplo arc al
ways ready to remark, whom step
mother commits an outrage in the
training of child, at is because she
is a step-mother," and not as it should
be, 1T is because she is an uakind
woman" Facts have shown that or
own child will be treated cruelty wher
the mother is bad woman, and gcni
us and untidiness are not necessarily
found together, any more than step
mothers and cruelty.
II my pastor should appear in BIZ
desk on Sunday mornings with hail
uncombed and face un washed, shoult
never think of attributing his singu
lar appearance to his profession; nei
ther should affiem that all minister
wont to church in tho same condi
ton.
Another instance is quoted: "I one
: called upon u friend, and found he
, sick, suffering through need of care
while her daughter was busily engae
ed in writing" Aud so the cruel sel
fishness and heartless neglect of thi
:. girl form the standard by which go
judge all literary women. Whateve
she wrote, God knows that it had n
blessing in ii for any one, because sh
lacked tho very goodness which is LII
J. key to all puro and noble thought
d. Be assured that tho women who haV
" written truest and best havo bee
j. those who have lived truest lives, VIII
N have been most loyal to every dut,
IN aud though the pen at times has la
TO wait, have found it to be the yer
discipline needed to mature and pur
fy thought, and have found, too,
= the eares and duties love has laid VI
on them, the springs Of holiest insp
ration.
II & be true that The greater 10,
Is for beauty and harmony q woman HI
a,s as in her soul, the more disorder|y b.
zee house will bp, and tho moru shasbi
S,. D.s she will dress; and tho greater pow
b. she has to write words that will rou
all the tender feelings of others, Il
+ more hcartless she will be, it is hi,
- time that poetry were crushed ont
Y tho hearts of women, that every o.
4 who has felt its divine presence shou
stiae the cry of her soul, "Woe is r
if preach not the word God is spoa
ing TO me-" lay down her>pen and Ii
a life of mockery.
Many persons have the idea tn
when woman writes at all, her wh,
time is devoted to it, and that ever
thing else must be neglected. WI
has been only incidental is oflen t
ken is the measure of woman's Il
~, work
q Sail Fanny Forester, "People t.
abou. my writing as though that W
a I. the opIy thing ever did. Why do