, 1873-11-09
AN EPISODE
In tho Lifo Of strong-Mintlcd
Woman.

,
Woman.
AarshaN Melt IN Ljppfncotr. Afagatins,
EXTRACTS From 4 JOURNAL,
NOV. l, 19-. II Is just throo yoars to-1n,
siuoc began to kpep tllta journal. nm n
glad now tllat poislstod I'll doing no. In splo o.
Tie temptations that havo ofaon assailod Inn t.
throw 1t aside. How else could reatizo, lirfpp
laomo to myaclf, taeso pnat three yoars, strong
aud vivid aa my remembrance OF tlom is? Nc
eRort Of mere recollection could hnyo preserved
Tor mo aH this book has done a record Of MI
struggles and failures, mud Of my Victories. Yoa,
! :! write tho word proudly, uioto,.ios, for have
ooon beyond my hopes SUCCESSFUL. How we'll /
| romomber my dear mothers distress ut my quoor
notions, as sho called them m,--hor ontrenties, ho1
Illogical protests against my making N.Y.
ee'f oonspicuouB!" !" Doar ,potherl cau
eco now that 1t waa worry natural ahe
should havo disliked and drendod nv becoming
"sbrong-mindcd woman," for anything nar-
rover than hor ideas Of woman's education and
sphere ono cannot imagine. Size was m excel-
lent specimen Of tue old-faahioned mother and
WIG. aud bolioTo ai1,core1y thought for whole
duty In life and the intention of hor creation
| was " to Buoklo fools md chronicle stnall-bcor
Let mo SEQ yes, hero 1t is at the worry Begin
ning-Nov. l, 18-. How faded tho ink looks |!
Lot mo read It: "To.day told mother meant
| to attend course OF medical lectures We had
scene, and she called in Cousin Jano to reaaon
| with me. How I deteat Cousin Jano! sho is
nothing but maaa Of orthodox dogmatisu. OF
! course, We quarrelod over 1t. and abe onted by
telling mo was dBgracing tie, family, and was
no true woman. Well, wo shall SEQ which OF us
has the tGuor comprehension OF \ woman'e
sphoro."
II is three years since wrote that. Those loo
taroa wore my first step, md, lko all first steps,
cost me moro Of q struggle than anything llavo
done alnce., As I look baok oyer!these thrco
years, 500 that ovcry hopo and aspiration
thon cherished has boen moro. than goalizcd. I
can trace tho steady progress Of my intellect. I
can go back to the days when started to earn
my own hyingAwhon thought; it a e1eat thing
to haro earned a few dollars by nv own labor.
Yes, am very glad to hnyo thts record Of tho
past 1t makes me- strong nnd hopeful OF the
1utnfo' havo never regretted my decision to
axs %sRs sonpha an pe9 t. LIE f. fGs s+ yso
Nature had gifted NIB, and from which
nothing but ouBtom md prejudice debarred mo
aud IN claiming my own, position am conscious
lcd the way tor those WHO may bo less cotlrss'
goou8 than nm. j.
All this might sound very conoeitel and eef-l
Gontident TO any one who should read. It, but I :.
oo not Wrato to % foad by othcr eyos than my
and feelinga; 90 may ibo frank with uysolf. :
and Why SHOULD not be!Eroud Of my iudcpond-
once l. 1a well a. any othot4 human creaturo3> !.
~, bue must prepare my speech for tomorrow. /.
bolleye they moan it tor though tome women
besldes mysof haro optnions, and can put them
into %;1,ras they mostly aek The courage hat
ceae,y certainty posaess: What delicious senso of
freedom ana qntettored action have IN my lifo
aont thlnk have laid down the special powers
Of my sox n n, aasereing my freedom but you,l
muat "sit Hills DOOR, foT the confession that iai4
a on .he up OF my pen' Work frat; that is myta
motto. :;
NOV. Ao.-Ion days since I opencd my
Journal nnu such busy aays as they'
tlase,,na navo nsen LAfes sPeoohoB, and half al
pane pamRos co,ornnse mlsien to, hayo done whatt
,a Moek: aow s,a despis9 gu theso timo-honoredt
RnI,ases' wn'cn, oeaa letters az they are act OBI
IN ~ .,ats 9 inferior so Ena'h @ S1a. o,ns women
,ooas .'ss work M But st "y not say
'g' 'sung' anola ",' DO tola woman should stsy at
Moho aEu ta4e oaio OF nef mouse and children. Il
Why ~, suy !, sns nsn 20 mousse and doea not
WISH 1or hoeoand and children. feeling that they
woa,u t , lmpedo nor IN her WORK All women arc I
nt,o nus aoen ,s 70 ~ ne mi'9s a moshora some have
i Genes mofN i 70 m ao bus naoa nos argue With my
inaat NJ annos;tas ~ s wy tnankhg my IDEAS
anees ~ .a 10 opp1S.son nete' Hnt tins ls not at
~ r.n,i1 i,1as. 1oa uaSe une salo Wora OF
ta1 aar 1eny 1p9lisans ia' eYens Of tne "eek Daro
a1,s: 1ay snas ~ - nao nan IofeoEIon IL man has
asn,oa,,,s ,fo - Luz ao great event OF
rafnsad - NJ r' ma.in ny teacA ana
10 te -. s' iIe u very nlco 1eilo",
e1ava, ~ tr;a+S nn, want an equal, not
.n w. ID, t,ioa, ,,ie oopaaton: n9t man drawn
,o ~ y u.5 aa ana aesiring to put
rvo,ao @ ,s ,ens;t;e tnat he may
~ s,,,l .', Ana the9 100,
,,nt ss w mouta - n.np'eI aaa foser!ot me muBt
~. 6.'e ny np ~ @ao4lnq "nat s meant for
apnn,s5 pa.s5' 41' nas LETT assH naYe se1lecslon to
,,ar;anco lug s,rca sseut' oe my thfeo years ek,
,sn u au@sys sa maan5anea thae woman
aat M1 uie anu ao'os INC Vowa that do
ues'ioys nee M a.9aetloh anu charm Tor tue other
coasfnt aha ar NAV Az e y clever ana cue
,, GSss'as . sne may 9e VII Mant 70 marry woman
WHY pats a1r htelloct into trousers instead OF
a ~ 1as lever creator mistake.
tluge =, Aaa 1ou1 o4ers o. marriage since un-