Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1877-08-02
A Chapter for our Lady Readers
Only.

1t is a hopeful symptom for that in-
dividual or race, or sex, whom a
sense of their deficiency has awak-
ened to the possibility of elevation,
either mental, moral or physical, or
who are regarded by their well-wish-
ers as capable of it in any degree, or
as worthy from whatever motive of
efforts in their behalf. Not that rest
lessness will of itself work out any
good, but an evil or a deficiency Keen
Iy felt usually suggests to the average
human exertion and experiment, and
these in time lead to results more or
less beneficial.
An evil seen and felt is in more
favorable condition for being removed
than one unknown or unrecognized,
though its removal may be far away
in time, and many failures and much
disappointment intervene. TRANSIT
tions are not interesting unless it be
to the scientific mind. To the unin.
structed observer chrysalis Is less
promising and less beautiful object
than a caterpillar, but then it is
nearer to becoming butterfly.
These remarks are merely a pre-
lude and apology for meddling with
the subject known as the Woman's
Suffrage movement, and for the dec
laration which we intend to make in
favor of that reform. Not that we be-
lieve for one moment in the idea of a
removal of all, or any of the evils un-
der which women labor by this
means, but a very ready excuse for
absence of exertion would be put out
of the way, as well as an incentive
furnished exertion in more certain
and orderly direction, namely, men,
tai and moral cultivation and the acu
QUESTION of knowledge.
Probably want of knowledge is the
most lamentable of the wants of wo-
men. / know this statement will
meet dissent, and, that as compared
with what women once knew, and the
standard of female education to-day
in other lands, American women may
be said to be extremely learned. But
it is true nevertheless that compare
lively few women have patience to
acquire accurate knowledge upon any
subject requiring much reflection.
Absence of leisure is the customary
excuse for this want, but it is scarce
ly the true one. There are few lives
which DO not have leisure for loneli-
ness and isolation, if not for desola.
ton, and there is no panacea for the
heart ache like persevering intellectu-
al employment. Fewer women would
pine OF broken hearts-or OF ennui-
if, when i'll at ease, the mind was
resolutely bent upon reading some
useful book-some work of history OF
science. Ifwomen cultivated refec.
ton instead of dreamy introspection,
and an analysis of facts instead of idle
fantacies they would be less at the
mercy of their own whims, and less
likely to be deceived by masculine
minds with whom they come in con-
tact. Few men, even the best, are
safe guides of women under all cir
cumstances. They do not understand
her, land so either leave her to stumble
over the rough places of life alone, OF
else lead her still farther from the
right path.
One of the great advantages o.
man over woman-an advantage
which he uses for her benefit, or the
reverse, as suits his self-interest-lies
in his more carefully trained intellect
and accurate knowledge. Not thai
women can or should strive to riva
man in pure reason. Woman seei
things without reasoning, but her in
sight should be based upon q full
knowledge of all the bearings of the
case, or else her view will be very de-
fective one,as it so generally is.Henct
the necessity of women acquiring
knowledge upon all useful subjects
and using it, too, as the basis of hel
feminine perceptions.
| Because women do not reason 81
much as feel it does not follow tina
she cannot kno,O. She may know al
the more surely.
sFor II she lack the patient brain
To track sly truth, her faeiIe wit
At that which he hunts down with paia,
This straight and doth exactly hit"