The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1873-11-07
Talks by the Preside.
EY NEHITABLE Moss.

Last night when we gathered for ON
talk, stranger sat in our midst. 1ei
not exactly 4 stranger. Years age
when | was young woman, my favor
ite pet was golden-haired, blue-eyed
little girl, an only child, idolized by her
parents, and petted, humored and in
dulged until nothing but inherent good
ness kept her from being spoiled. Moth
ing that love could suggest or money
buy was denied her. Just as she reached
womanhood, the belle, as well as the
beauty, of her social circle, n financial
crash came, swept away their riches
and prostrated her father, leaving him
Z confirmed invalid.
Then my beautiful Maud SaybrOOk
showed OF what heroic fiber she was
made. She went bravely out into the
world to earn food, shelter and clothing.
The battle for bread is the hardest one
fought. Talk OF pOwder-grimed SOL
diers, Of Scared heroes, of scorched
martyrs, Of the fierce onslaught Of bat
tie, Of the terrors Of prison, of terrible
temptations i'm high places, of the fear
ful combats with self, passion and appe-
tite-and vet what are these compared
with the struggles of woman, who alone
and with no capital except her strength
and talent, seeks to win a competence.
y thousand, avenues are closed against
her feminine feet, in others she may
walk but with her hands tied, custom
cramps her movements, her best laid
plans are thwarted, her most earnest ef-
forts defeated, she gropes in the depths
OF despair, her inmost being pierced by
thOrns, she is misiudged, and eyed ask
ance. A wrong construction is Ofttimes
placed upon her most innocent actions
Il u
then If all the while she is drudging,
toiling and striving, her intellect
clamors for education and culture, and
her aesthetic nature hungers for art, and
music, flowers, and travel, for all the
rare beauty and fullness which wealth
alone can secure, and as far from her
grasp as the stars are from the earth, the
iron enters her very soul, and words are
powerless to portray what she endures
What wonder that hundreds, weary and
discouraged, fall 10y the way? 1t makes
me sick at heart to think Of the barren
ness Of the lives of many gifted, am
bilious girls, who are striving to be
something, TO do something. Give
them . chance and they would become
shining lights in the world, but they
struggle with custom-impOsed disad-
vantages and half wages, until the vigor
and elasticity Of youth are exhausted,
and then hope and ambition crushed
out then they marry, more for a home
than anything else; live bat half under
stood and appreciated by their hus-
bands; take up the unending, wear
isome treadmill Of housework, bear
children, girls, perchance, to re-enact
The same pitiful tragedy; and 90 down 10
their graves UuhOuOred and unsung
Thin q al.
BEEN
But ! have moralized so long that
there will he but little space wherein TO
report our talk. Maud SayhrOok under
took canvassing for publishing firm.
Friends lamented and enemies sneered.
Why could she not choose 4 less public
employment Why not teach or sew =
Because answered Maud, bravely,
'the school-rOom and sewing shop are
crowded, good canyassers are rare and
always IN good demand. ] have been
complimented on my pleasing address,
HlE winning manners, my interesting
conversational powers, why should not
lurn All these into use-make them my
capital ~
30 she went out into the world, trav-
eied, mingled among people of differ
cut nationalities and social grades, went
anywhere and everywhere her business
called, and Yet kept herself so unfair
hlaht7l, 80 pure and sweet, that her face
reminded one of wood violets.
she related odd bits of her experience
last night, some laughable, and Others
sad.
"And where have you found the most
encouragement, sympathy and apprecia-
tion, among the men or the women 2n
asked Dr. Blair
Among the men," she replied
warmly. "As general thing men are
more ready and willing TO help wom-
an who is striving to make her own way
than women are.n
"What do you think of that, Mrs.
Sullivan >" asked DR.. Blair, triumph
autly.
"Why, I do not think it strange at
all she replied. "Women are just as
benevolent naturally as men, but cir
cumstances crush out their generosity.
IL Is so hard for women 10 get money
II takes so much toll for them to earn
anything-that they feel like holding on
10 what they have The easier money
Is made, the more readily il is given.
Gamblers will give more generously to
an OBJECT OF charity than anyone else.
NeIy frequently, married women have
W,io o.'e uoilar 10 spend as they choose.
" nat Is required for absolute necessi-
ties Is grndgingly doled out, dime bv
dime, 10y their husbands, who may baye
thousands at their command. INF tbev
poor dependent women, cannot give ~
charity, JOIN a society, or subscribe fora
magazine Tor want of means.U "
"When | marry, shall have IL !, ,,,o
contract that my husband shall bend
over to me half that he earns - said ''I'li Ta,'
ME Baker, Indignantly. s'i-
] noticed that young CloypooI wincad
and I returned thanks that Girls ora
learning more Of what is due to women
than their mothers ever dreamed.
''Some of these days there will be a
law passed compelling married women
10 pay their debts" remarked DIR.
Graham, mischievously.
"Then," answered Mrs. Nelson, 1--WE
will demand regular wages, aud adopt
the cash system"