The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1875-07-01
WHAT IS THE STANDARD?
BY ISADORE ROGERS,

WHAT ID lnE SlANDAkDE
BY IsADORE ROGERS
g / feel that should be neglecting nv
duty, Mrs. HARDWOOD, if did not avail
myself of friends privilege to speak to
You of some of your peculiarities. Now,
l don't want to offend you, for I really
like you, and nothing but sincere regard
for your highest interests would induce
me to incur the risk of your displeasure,
and YOU must promise to take what l am
going to say in the true spirit of friend
ship
A smile fitted over the listeners face
like CLEAN of sunshine across beauti-
full landscape. No wonder that Mrs.
Lindsay really liked her. for who could
help it: Her features were regular, beau
tiful and intelligent; the predominating
expression was that of benevolence, but
underlying this was one of steady, self
reliant determination. Not fixed and i'm
movable stubbornness, but reasonable
adherence to preconceived opinions and
principles. Her countenance was pleas
ant study; the kind and noble impulses of
her heart were faithfully reflected from
the clear, deep, hazel eyes, and real, gen.
uine goodness gave an irresistible charm
to her being, and glance at her pure,
genial face made one wonder what the
subject of her companions lecture could
be.
1T is our best friends that tell us of our
faults she said in reply, land always
take advice kindly
you meant by inviting that seamstress
into your carriage yesterday and then
driving all around the picnic grounds
among your fashionable acquaintance
apparently just as much at your ease as
though she had been lady of the realm?"
Why, my dear woman, l went to that
picnic for the purpose of enjoying myself
and of helping others to enjoy themselves,
and invited that girl to seat in my car
riage because l thought she would be made
happier by it,"
But can you afford to sacrifice your
self for the sake of bestowing happiness
upon one who is nothing to you, who does
not even belong to your social circle?"
"Why, there was no sacrifice about it;
there was room enough for us both.''
"Oh, my friend, your ideas are so in
tensely Western. Is it possible that you
do not know that you were an object of
ridicule among some of the most wealthy
and fashionable ladies of our circle?"
Because l stepped beyond the pre-
scribed limits of our social boundary, and
invited person to seat in my carriage
who was not able to have one of her OWN"
Exactly; and although such things
might be we'll enough in Colorado they
will certainly affect your social standing
intended to recognize you at all, but when
she saw Senator Harlan and wife approach
ing you, and appearing so overjoyed osee
you, she said she thought it wouldn't
hardly do, and that we would try the ef-
fects of moral suasion before giving you
up altogether"
In order to understand Mrs Harwood's
position 1t will be necessary to take a
glance at her previous history. Very early
IN life she had been dependent upon her
own exertions for livelihood. A fair
education was all her father had to give
her, and as soon as her youthful mind
realized the fact that he was toiling for
her support she resolved to do something
to tighten his burdens, even though it
should be nothing more than maintaining
herself. There is something that every
person can do well, and there must be
something in which l can excel,' she
thought; 81 now, of all things in the world,
what would l rather do: 1 love to play
and sing better than anything else, so that
must be the direction in which my talent
lies So, acting upon the idea, She fit
ted herself to teach music and immediate
ly entered upon the labors of her chosen
occupation; but how often was her sensi-
tive nature shocked and panied and hui.
INFLATED by the selfish and unfeeling con-
duct of persons who imagined themselves
her superiors because they ate the bread
of idleness. But she was scarcely twenty
years of age when she became acquainted
with Arthur HARDWOOD, an intelligent,
energetic and enterprising young man,
whom she married, and they emigrated to
the mining districts of Colorado Mr..
HARDWOOD promptly secured a claim and,
under his thorough business-like manage
ment, the resources of the mine were so
we'll developed that, after few years of
strict attention to his business, he returned
to the Eastern States to enjoy princely
fortune.
Mrs. HARDWOOD had always made prac-
tice of devoting her leisure hours to the
improvement of her mind, but after the
acquisition of their fortune she made men
tai culture her business, and devoted her
leisure hours to matters which she con-
sidered of minor importance. Beautiful,
talented, cultured and refined, and fully
entitled to the consideration which the
world so willingly accords to the wealthy,
her position was truly enviable. But she
shocked her fashionable acquaintance by
regarding people from her own stand
point, utterly ignoring the factthat society
had already settled such matters for her.
She remembered the trials Of her early
days, and never did she see young and
sensitive girl, struggling for livelihood
among selfish and unfeeling people with
out bestowing upon them words of SYM
pathy and encouragement, and endeavor-
ing to cultivate in them spirit of self
respect; and when she knew that
they were worthy, she often invited
them into her own society, some
time calling for them to accompany her
in her walks and rides, and they never
failed to return refreshed in mind and
body, benefited and made better by the
society of good, pure, true and noble
woman. This course was truly alarming
to some of the fashionable ladies whose
only standard of worth was measured by
dollars and cents; for if their circle was
to be invaded by milliners and dressmak-
ers and school teachers how were they to
maintain the strict exclusiveness of the
upper ten! If laboring people were not
compelled to occupy q position beneath
them how should they be able to stand
above! These questions sorely perplexed