Smyrna times., 1880-07-14
American Women,

The men of nation inevitably make
the women what they will, and the women
IN return impress upon their children what
they have received from their own fathers.
Hence 1t comes that the existence of the
American woman has become almost as
purely objective as that of the man. Her
Ideal OF life from her cradle has been as
soclated with the maximum of exerton.
mere IS no quletude among Americans,
and wonderfully little egotism in their
social lie. 1t Is never ending series of
sensations and mental shocks, which keens
the whole being in a nervous quiver, and
allows no time for any quality save that of
energy to develop itself symmetrically.
lhe American woman is as unquiet in her
thoughts and enslaved by her duties, how
ever light, as the man. Even when she
visits She has no air of repOse. Her con-
versatlon is not thoughtful, but actful.
She tells you what she does or suffers, not
what she thinks or feels, There is no
revere about her, no suggestion Of that
broodlng spirit which indicates capacity
Tor lmpassloned affection, capacity which
TO bachelors $ always ideally seductive,
however little the married man may appre.
clate or return it.
Yet, generally speaking, undemonstra.
tive as the American girl may be, she will
wear her heart out in working for the man
she loves. She torgets all about Jcag for
hlm in that merciless energy which always
drives her into doing for him.
There Is, again, another reason whv the
American girl seems cold to the superficial
observer. 1t IS because she is free. She is
educated to repress emotion, because he1
Independent movements expose her to con.
tact with men of all classes, among whom
there are many very vile persons. Her
GOODNESS OF demeanor, therefore, is her
armOr against impertinence or even worse
things. She passes, Dana-like, through
crowds of men every day, not one of whom
for one instant suspects her Of being other
than she is, because her manner shows her
at once to be q. free born, spotless Ameri
can woman. They never dream that be
cause no ore IS watching her she means to
90 astray.
The defects of the American girl NAV be
done away with by giving less prominence
to the purely intellectual or purely practi
Cal side OF her education. For while one
class of men is striving to solve the prob
lens OF life By educating women intellec
tually, there is another class which is shout
AlE III COuSdtIOIl III OOuCSllC matters.
While the professors at Harvard are re
Joiclng over some girls who can take in
their philosophers or their mathematics
the newspaper editor sings the praises o.
her who can roast turkey, bake bread, OF
make her own dresses. Neither gives tho
poor girl any chance to exist, but only tc
work, with either hand or brain. No one
says to her. 3" You are not only yourself
but possibly the future mother of Other
beings. Do not therefore allow yourself tC
be driven by either school of apostles be
yond what you may do easily, comfortabl,
or pleasurably. The healthy balance O
your nervous system is far more importan
to you and your future family relations
than all the mathematics or dressmaking
or even roasting Of turkeys Occupy your
self steadfastlY, but without strain, with
out hurry and without emulation. As tn,
apostle said land it must have been mean
expressly for Americans) "avoid emula
ton" Find out first what you can do best
and even if it does not come up to some
body else'S standard, learn to content your
self with that.-Juy .12antic