The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1878-08-30

essened.
7. Disease would be increased.
s. The judgments of God would be |
brought down upon the nation
Church Union.
A Short Chapter on the . Superior
WOmau."
1t is curious, when we think Of it, to /
note the prevalence of the phrase, a
superior woman" as used to describe
good, intelligent or useful
women, when such an expression ss a
superior man" would produce an impress
sion of surprise or oddity There Is
in the expression that implies
that women generally are not superior,
aud that one of this description i rather
exceptional. When we hear the phrase
the force of contrast brings TO our minds
the characteristics of women. which are
inferior, and probably the chief distinc-
ticn of the really superior woman lies in
the freedom from the follies, weaknesses,
littleness and trihing aims of woman
kind, rather than in actual requirements.
For the superior woman is found IN
every class and condition of society
Her chief characteristic, and one that
must be a basis for her whole course
OF lite, is knowledge and apprecia-
ton of the proper relations of things,
or what HameTton would call
just thinking Hence trihes never
sssun e, in her eyes, the importance
of principle. That women are tooessily
impressed and di-eoncerted, and thrown
off their balance by trities, has been the
complaint against them from time inn
memorial, and not without cause. Their
education, and the narrow range Of their
interests have been to blame for this in
times past; but things are changing.
Woman is no longer compelled to walk
along the monotonous levels of live with
her duties rs sand about her feet; to her
it is given now to rise to the mountain
heights of thought or achievement where
she can
"See life steadily and see it whole"
and the results upon her character are
every day becoming more apparent
The superior woman always has large
philanthropy. Not that facetieus.
uneasy sentiment which expends itself
in church festivals, or sewing societies.
or charity balls, but that which regulates
all her intercourse with society. Hence
she is never found ready 10 impute wrong
motives to people never ready and eager
To cry down the wavward and guilty.
Nor will she ever be .ound
among the narrow-minded class
of PuTitsnical spirits who, perhaps with
out capacity for temptation, or knowledge
of life wide enough to enable them to
estimate its power, would forever shut
the door in the face of one who has done
wrong. Rather she will be ready to be-
lieve that the very fact OF wroDg-doing,
and suffering the sting il carries with it,
may give an impulse to Il Eobler and
better life than ever. Hence the supe
rior woman naturally attracts to her
struggling and repentinE souls, and her
broad charity, which believeth all things
and hopeth all things, is a constant slim
illus to them in their efforts after better
things.
As a member of society the superior
woman is wholly above gossip. This does
not necessarily mean an Indifference to
or lack of interest in the lives, actions
and doings of our neighbors. The es-
sence of gossip in its mi chievous sense
is the repeating of remarks or criticisms
or the relation of incidents calculated to
make divisions and hard f elings between
friends and acquaintance. Nothing but
the most serious considerations will
ever justify the repetition to one
friend of the unkind or derogstoty
remarks made by another, and'vet this
is an ofense of which women are too
often guilty. We all have our annoy
ances and troubles, and it is often a
great relief and help to disburuen them
to friendly ear. We even like to make
our complaints of the conduct and treat
ment OF friends, but il we pour them
into an ear that listens but to repeat we
are indeed sowing sorrow and trouble for
ourselves. But when we have q friend
in the superior woman we know that
such condolences are sacred we feel that
her calm judgement and clear insight
will help US to judge rightly of things
which on account of their nearness and
annoying nature We are unable to
estimate justly. What privilege is suci
a friend In whose honor we can trust and
whose sense OF right will even restrain
and direct Us if we are likely to be hast Y
in our judgments or too rash in our
| actions?
"Speech is silver, but silence is gold,
en-" says the old proverb, and it is ex
empliaed in the case of the superior
woman. The one little incident that i;
related of Mary which of all otheri
marks her superior character is that
amid the strife of tongues, the rumors
the complaints against her son when ht
entered upon his ministry. she kept al
these things and produced them in be-
heart. What an immense advantage i
possessed by the person who can keeI
! silence. The thought once spoken il
forever after our master; we are it
/ slave.
" Not the gods can shake the past ,
! And in no one thing in the
conduct of life is sup. riority
OF character more displayed than
in the control of speech. If any
offend not in word" says James, 'sthe
same is perfect man." and this is even
| true of woman.
But no atmosphere of superior sanctiiy
or self-conscious rectitude or dignity
surrounds the superior woman. She il
"a accessible as the sunlight, and. like
the sun she shines upon the evil snd the
good. Her presence is an encourage
ment to every noble purpose, as her
character and conduct are an example
for ali who would rise above pettine sses
of life. Her heart il fountain of love
FOR human ity her strength of character
and just estimate OF life is a tower OF
strength in all seasons Of perplexity and
doubt. She is
"A perfect woman, molly planned
10 .Gunsel comfort aud command.
Ard yet spirit still, and bright
With something of an an ;el light"