The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1878-05-09
The Women of New Virginia.
BY MARY W. EARLY, OF LYNCuBURG.

,pend long calm days, filled with mystic
Ieverie,' which passage As | read it re-
gently, drew from me n smile partly of
sadness and partly of amusement SO an
tipodal to Pendennis picture was the life
Of care and hustle ami responsibility that
sur Virginia country gentleman had now
sdays. Mystic reverie," indeed. How
is woman to indulge in such luxury
when little raw negro is waiting to be
instructed how to churn, or perhaps the
churn stands waiting to be manipulated
BY the fair hands of the dame herself.
The Virginia women bore themselves
5ravely under the new regime. They
Aave adapted themselves to their great
everses With the fOrtitude that belongs
% every true woman and the versatility
hat especially characterizes American
women and their changed circumstances,
they have kept us their culture and re-
inement in way that is surprising,w while
10 amount of poverty can quen"h their
ove and striving for nicely and beauty
n the details of their surroundings.
Every one who lived in or visited the
South before the war knows how tender
" the women of the better class were
sheltered from contact with the outer
world. The winds of heaven were not
mffered to blow on their cheek too rough
", but in the last thirteen years great
evolution has taken place in their lot
Hany women were left widows or father
ess by the casualties of war and the men
Who Survived have met with such serious
changes in their fortunes that they are no
OnCer able to shield the women of their
household from care and poverty. The
changes in their circumstances ana sur
Dundings have necessarily modified the
characteristics of Virginia women. Not
being so closely sheltered from the storms
IF life as heretofore, contact withits hard
realities has rubbed off somewhat of their
isrmer shrinking soitness, and lessened
Me pliability of their disposition Now
Rdays they are often called on to think
md decide and act for themselves, hence
hey are much more self-reliant than
brmerly, and in conduct as we'll as in
conversation take a much more decided
stand They no longer answer you with
pretty, may it please you or $50 it is.
but express their views and opinions with
considerable tirmness and decision.
OF late years we have not unfrequently
snown them to carry on enterprise, which
we're formerly considered to belong ex-
rlusvely to the masculine sphere, such,
Sor instance, as carrying on a spoke mill
SLING contract for tan bark, etc.
know a young lady who for some time
supported herself by writing series Of
articles for Canada paper describing
he political status of Virginia, all of
which shows that under the pressure of
secessity. Virginia women are equal to
.he emergency, although there are no
women more feminine or domestic. They
illustrate the fact that when the oak
gives way the vine of modern times has
inaugurated new III lde of proceeding.
Instead of sinking to the earth and being
crushed, it struggles to hold itself up and
grow as best it can without its prop
AS an illustration Of the turn given t.
feminine character and pursuits by the
rhanges of late years, may mention Il
little incident of recent occurrence. CO.
mg one day to visit young lady who
had Just returned home, after teaching a
session, found my young friend with
sleeves rolled back to the elbow, paint
pot in hand, diligently laying a coat of
paint on the parlor mantle piece. This
task completed she took from her trunk
bundle of window panes and with her
own fair hand inserted them in win low
s4shes garnished with old pillows. Il
sm resolved said the young girl as she
ieftly fulfilled her task, TO repair the
wastes as far as | can, and to make my
bcIae prettier and more c)mfortable, for
/ do love il, although it leaks like a siit-
z and looks like the walls Of BAlclutha."
Having concluded this performance, this
versatile young lady sat down to the piano
ana treated Us to charming German
png. Schubert's lovely "Naehe des
1lele osen,' for she did not suffer the
practical affairs OF life to usurp her time
and attention TO the exclusion of accom-
Dlishments and culture.
| recall another instance that illus
rates the manner in which young South
Hn women have learned to meet emer-
yencies OF late years During the epizootic
panic Of 1872 widow lady living on a
Arm with her two daughters became
tlrald that one of her horses was
taking the disease. The young ladies,
although women of culture and
high social position, were always
eady TO meet any emergency aud
AXE it by the horns, so they made little
negro bring forth the steed. " and on the
animals giving a sound tina. they inter
preted into an epizootic sneeze they
Needed at once on a vigorous course OF
treatment. They had been told that it
was very important TO cover up horses
md keen them warm when threatened