Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1869-05-11
Woman's RIGHTS.

rise and set in the faces of her loved ones.
But who can be SO insane as to forget that
for thousands of women no husband, no
children, no home awaits? 1t sounded
very poetical and fine, the essay of that
doctor of divinity who denounced the idea
of ''wonans right to labor" 1t was per-
fectly easy, no doubt, for man who had
welded his daughters to wealth, who ca
ressed them every day in their gilded cages,
to sit in his luxurious study, and in flow
cry phrase write out his horror of women
with filrrowed brows and hardened hands.
Yet no less the whole world is full of wo-
men who work, and who must acork. To
such, in the name of justice, what but ca
pacity has the right to limit the opportu-
mites of labor or of honor? | would not
| lay so much as a straw in the way OF such |
woman seeking profession, or pubic
career. There are women born to these, |
just as there are men. Together they |
make the minority of the race. Every pow |
er involves its use. Every faculty is itself |
the only measure of its sphere. 1t is futile, |
as it is false, for one soul ever to declare to
another, This shalt thou do and be, but
only this" | recognize an order of women
born to fame and honor. reverence them
in the estate to which they were born. l
pity them also For, if they are women
at heart, they bear publicity as burden
d -never seek it as boon. recognize the
beginning of vast and exalted change to
be wrought through every phase of society,
through every form of government, through
the ascendency of the feminine intellect
and soul, as a disciplined, educated, re-
sponsible power in the earth. Recognize
ing it, the utmost that | am moved to say
to myself or to any woman, is: First your
home. This may be very commonplace.
Amid the very uncommon things which |
hearevery day, | prefer to be commonplace.
When great wave of dazzling theory al
most sweeps me from my balance, the next
moment [ plant my feet the firmer on the
dear old earth, and with the travestied arm
ament of new ideas bristling in my very
eyes still declare: First the home. If
could speak in meeting like the young
: convert" who is content if he can only say,
Il love the Lord" should be perfectly
happy if could say, with an JUNCTION which
would convince every heart First the home.
:, In the world | see unrest, discomfort,
strife, sin. | see girls, children in years,
from whose cheeks the first blush of inno-
cence, from whose soul the last vestige of
youth has gone; women sold to frivolty /;
women wasting most precious gifts; women
, whose ambition has no higher object than
to mislead and triumph over men; men
growing hard and selfish, and wicked, the
slaves of their passions, going down to
death, with no hand to save, all for the lack
of the true home. Then | remember that
= the home is the first kingdom of the wo-
man, i'll which her rights can never be de-
: throned-that all pure love, all high tho'ts
all religion, all government, to live, must
have their roots beneath their altar Then
| feel impelled to say to every woman who
has home, before all things: First your
home. No matter how high your ambition
may transcend its duties, no matter how
far your talents or your influence may out
:; run its doors, before everything let it be
:, first your home. Be not its slave; be its
II minister. Let it not be enough that it is
swept and garnished, that its silver glitters
that its food is delicious. Feed the love
;, in 1t. Feed the truth in it. Feed thought
and aspiration in it, Feed all charity and
gentleness in it. Then shall come forth
!, from its wall the true woman, the true man
= who together shall rule and bless the land
! | believe that every woman who wishes
20 it has the right to the ballot; that no man
,t has the right, though he may possess the
" power, to deprive her of the natural right
10 OF citizenship. But the enfranchisement
" for which | most devoutly pray is higher
e. than that of the ballot Ipray for it first, fol
= myself; then for all women. We had al
o. better pray for it, seek for it, live for it
N enfranchisement from littleness, emancipa
,e ton from pettiness in feeling, in deed, in
20 endeavor. Men hear few women de
TO manding increased rights; but they SCI
~ more women ignoring the noblest right:
O. which they possess. They hear few wo
,e men calling loudly for wider opportunity
It but they see many more wasting the bes
h. opportunities which they inherit as birth
V right Let every woman remember tina
n all true elevation must begin in her owl
X being. Women have only to prove them
Is selves worthy of their utmost demand t.
k obtain 1t. Then no human power coult
withhold it from them. Before make thu
re loudest cutlery about my rights denied, lie
Is me be certain that | have made the bes
ne and the most of the rights which | have
Sc Before wax most eloquent over the watch
s. word of progress" let me be certain tina
st the highest work of progression has com
menced in my own heart. Before I com
lis plain too bitterly of my restricted sphere
III let me be sure that I have made the mos
IS of its lowliest opportunity, that amid al
y its limitations | have done my best to be
to good and noble woman-my utmost to out
an grow all that is meagre, partial and poo
at in my own nature. Then, if still hav
,e- love unabsorbed, and power unoccupiec
il when the larger opportunity comes, / sha
er- be worthy of that opportunity and equa
of to its utmost service.-Mary CSemer Anae
to IN the Independent.
Secret of Successful Teaching.
mt An old divine has said that ''he VIII