Weekly graphic. [volume] (Kirksville, Adair Co., Missouri) 1880-1949, 1881-12-02

not until moro women nave NeaS uat-
side of their domestic Cares--1 do not
saw above, theil domestic duties, for the
Of A wife and mother is above
everything clsc.--but is woman's du:
" complete when her children are fed
and clothed! Is it no, a part Of moth
erhOod to keep her place as instructor
to her children. Why is it that women
are usually so deficient in general in.
formation! When 4 woman marrles,
a, rule her education steps; that is
her knowledge of books and things out
side Of Domestic life. Why is this so?
WHY is it that women's lives are SO mar
row! Why is ii that men talk soft moth
ings to them and then turn % his BROTH
er man to be instructed and advised!
The great excuse that women with
families have. is want Of time, and then
they turn to their eternal scrubbing and
securing. do not believe that WON.
en- were born to have scrubbing- brush
everlastingly in one hand and broom
in the other any more than her broth
ers were. l do not believe that wom-
ans mind was given her to waste in
polishing pots and pans. though they
must have their time; but if either the
mind or the pans must be neglected, let
it be the pans. There are hundreds of
women who would think it almost
crime to let the least dimness mar the
brightness of their culinary implements
while their minds from long neglect are
growing rustier and DINNER every day.
read somewhere long time ago,
that "a martyr is good thing to have
in family but a mother is better"
There are plenty of martyrs nowadays;
toiling, self.denying and unsclhsh wom-
en-, but how many good mothers. capa-
BILE of giving her children both physic-
al and mental food; Of taking her chill
dren by the hand and leading them to
the fountain of knowledge, not merely
pointing, but leading the way. Is not
the respect of her husband and chill
dren of more moment than the latest
fashions? The question comes up just
here, can mother be really respected
who is left away behind in the pursuit
of wisdom!
believe that every woman, no mat
ter what her cares may be, no matter
how many little i1esistibles she may
be obliged to wash and dress, to scrub
and scour after, may if she will, save a
few hours now and then to improve her.
self, to furbish up her mind, which like
all bright articles. becomes dim from
disuse. There are beautiful gems Of
thought within her reach, if she would
but see them; there are glorious ideas
uttered in these stirring times, if she
would but hear them.
The time has come when women
must rouse themselves from the mael-
strom of frills and furbelows; she must
adorn her brow with intelligence in.
stead of frizzes, A few tucks less on
baby's dress, a few ruffles less upon her
own, and the time is won to CLEAN ide-
as and to treasure them up to think G.
bout while performing that ceaseless
routine that every housekeeper knows
SO well. Married women as a rule are
the most ignorant of women. Why it
is I cannot tell, unless it is that they
follow out the Bible injunction too lit
orally and ask their husbands at home,
instead of going about it like rational
beings and finding out for themselves;
and then sometimes even their iege-
lords are ignorant, and of course their
wives must needs be too. This is but
my own solution of the question. 1t is
the general belief that it is because of
their all-absorbing home life, but l have
shown how any woman may CLEAN her
own ideas and ask no mans opinion.
Most men admire weak, dependent
women for their very weakness, but l
have seen some men with brains enough |
to admire women for their strength of
character, strong, helpful women, who
being capable Of standing alone, make
efficient helpmates, wives and mothers.
But then we are not considering the
question of mans likes and dislikes,
but rather what really is and ought to
be.
am firm in the belief that women
can 60 to the polls and vote without
losing her refinment or womanhood.
but am afraid the time is not yet; not
because of mans opposition, but be-
cause of woman's willingness to keep
pack with the answer that they were
made to be mems guardian angels, put
hey must be angels without brains.
OLIVE.
We do not agree with"Olive" and
re hope some Of our contributors will
i've us the other side of the story. Ill
ope that "Millicent." "York State r."
nd others, will not be bashsful, but