Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1872-01-28
WOMAN's OPPoRNITY.

The woman question" is one which is
being discussed at this time by all writers
and speakers. AS regards the radical idea
of voting and office holding, we care not
to waste words in discussing it. Women
themselves, as a class, have no taste for
politics or desire for public life. Their in
stincts and feelings all lead them naturally
to desire and find their true mission in a
home life. 1t is the woman, and not the
man, who makes the home. He provides
the means, but without her they will not
make home, be they ever so lavishly ex-
pesded in adjoining and identifying a
house. If there is 20 wife or mother or
sister there is but emptiness and mockery
in the name home, yet, let there be an alb
sence of all luxuries, ana even many conf
forts, if there is there true, noble
womanhood, there is home where the
heart of man unerringly turns. 1t is a
thought that may we'll stir with emotion
every woman's heart, that to her is given
such noble mission. She need not de-
sire greater influence than she possesses,
and can exercise in the affairs of this
world, if she but fits herself for her posi-
ton and makes the most of her powers.
There never was a time when her in
f1uence over mankind was so great as at
present, simply because there never was a
time when she was so capable Of being a
companion and equal in intellect. 1t is just
here we want to say to women educate
yourselves. AS it is the one thing that
has brought you to your high position, so
the want of is, in greater degree, is hold
ing you back.
With many noble exceptions, and in
more modified ways in others, the life of a
woman is to go through school with a
superficial knowledge Of the usual course
of studies, little smattering of French,
drawing, and music, the last year Of study
being directed greatly from its proper
effect by the distracting thoughts of fash
ion, society and young gentlemen's atten-
tons. When school days are over, study,
reading, except, perhaps, the latest
novels) and all mentalimprovement ceases,
dress and gaiety are all .engrossing until
they settle down into married life and
housekeeping and the care of children oc-
cupy them the rest of their lives. A GER
tain amount of attention to dress, that she
may be always neatly and becomingly at
tired, is indispensable. Society needs and
demands her refining, elevating Christian
influence, and she deserves and will have
the admiration and attention of mankind,
but she will deserve and receive it a thou
sand fold more if she attracts by a culti-
waited intellect, affectionate and amiable
disposition as well as by her youthful
beauty, adorned with tasteful toilet.
The great mistake she makes is to give
up study and mental improvement as soon
as she leaves school. In this day of books
and newspapers, there is no excuse for her
ignorance of events that are TRANSFERRING
in, and the questions that are agitating the
world, whether scientific, political or re-
Iigious. She should be able to discuss
them intelligently. They are of vital i'm
portance to her and affect her condition in
life just as truly as mans, and she cannot
expect to have power to influence men
and through them effect reform and
change events, making her impress for
good felt and acknowledged in the world,
unless she prepares herself understanding
ly on all subjects. We say then, to women,
make your homes attractive by every
means in your power. Fill them with
those thousand little nameless articles Of