The Portland daily press., 1881-12-01
"MEN's WOMEN AND woMEN's
WOMEN"
Mrs. Julia Ward Howe's Lecture at Con-
gress Hall.

Congress Hall was dimly, if not religiously
lighted last evening by the frugal minded jan
itor This hall is usually frequented by the re-
formed and reforming members of total absti-
20 lodges who are busted in keeping them
selves and other people sober, and do not con-
cern themselves with essays on society and the
new dispensation for women. Last evening
large audience fairly representing perhaps, Port
land polite society assembled to learn from Mrs
Julia Ward Howe, whether polite society was
polite, and If not what they had better do about
it, But by some hap OR other Mrs. Howe had
left the lecture on society at home and brought
one on women The audience sighed in gen.
teel though disappointed manner, but yet con-
graduated itself that its manners were safe till
Friday night, efter which we may look for
new version. On the wall behind the lecturer of
the evening was sign or "motto" reading
ssDare to do right" Upon her reading desk
was small kerosene lamp perched on the top
of a high box. The subject of the lecture,
which was listened to with close attention was
on Mems Women and Women's Women. Mrs.
Howe's voice is rather chilly and her enuncia-
tion over nice.
The lecture was study of the two sorts of
women. Mems women and women's women.
1t was critical of the present relations between
men and women and suggested better and
more helpful form of society. 1t is also touched
upon the theme of the subordinate position of
woman in the past, and her duty to do her own
thinking aud acting.
The women of the world have been from the
outset captives. Some love the master, but the
masses held in bondage Finding the mascu-
lin aIa in thu osaQndancV the easiest
thing TO do is to recognize it.
Women easily become mems women, sultlng
their thought and action to what men
want of them.
terested gets on well, the world in general they
believe is getting on well. Mems women are
plenty, women's women are scarce. One wom-
an is anxious to monopoze the attention and
admiration of men, another gathers women
about her to enrich and benefit. From suffer
ing may come help. The Heloise enf Abelard
became re lowned abbess and the despair that
isolated her became fruitful motherhood.
Some points are overlooked in the education
of women. "Whatever you do don'tbe small. -
A man soon wearies of a woman who knows no
duty beyond his pleasure. The grave and
modest of her own sex avoid the mans
woman. She lives for herself. She does not
guess at the true values OF life. She has the
limitations of her sex but the compensations
she barters for admiration.
The lecturer described an illustration she had
seen of modern drawing room the "matrons.
surrounded by attentive men, the maids" with
no one TO do them honor, but solitary waiter
who was offering them ices. The lecturer IN
timated that the illustration was probably
drawn from New York society. This sugges-
ton and an anecdote of Boston lady with the
quiet explanation that being a Boston lady
further praise would be a superhuity, the gild-
ing of the lily as it were, conveyed to some the
impression that the distinguished lecturer
might possibly prefer boston to New York.
To women's women the details OF the house,
hold arts may safely be intrusted. They rntfie
their dresses without rut1ing their heads.
They are good authority on points OF etiquette
they are kind but tedous-uncharitable
with their own sex and formal with the other.
Against the teaching that it is woman's divine
duty to please man let there be protest.
So much of life is mechanical that man
even is willing others should do his thinking.
Much harder is it to make woman think for
herself The treason of woman to her own
sex is one of the sad things in her history. The
chord of sex is dwelt upon till 1t destroys the
balance of the relation between man and
woman. Literature wells the dark truth with
roses but there is only one way out of the
labyrinth and the grasp OF the Minotaur-- and
that by holding Ell en to the little thread of duty
new dispensation is called f6ffs-Let US
consider what is attainable. Let us recognize
the di versity of gifts and also let us recognize
the equality of human obligation. This will
impose upon us the duty of working out our
own IDEAS Let us not tolerate second hand
thinking in religion or philosophy. Let us
work out whatever talent will bring dignity
and happiness. Let not women be as flowers
brought to market but planted in garden.
This world should be paradise of happy
thought and affection. There is partial
recognition of this truth even now in spite OF
the worlds sorrows and every advance shows
III iutinita hountV of the Qiyer.