Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-10-01
WOMEN IN THE CRISIS.
A SPLENDID TRIBUTE.

From Harper's Bazaar.
In the position which women have held in
relation to the Presidents illness, there is
much that is both remarkable and Interesting
position that even in the midst of the general
anxiety and suspense, where the heart of the
whole nation beats as one heart, is gratifying at
least to other women, and suggestive OF
thought All the more is this felt because 1t is
not q position given by gallantry, and accom-
as Of right and a matter of course. and marks
an era Of fuller appreciation Of the peculiar
worth Of womanliness.
The foreign historian who was surprised to
find the ancient Germans according to all women
among them the reverence due only to priest
esses-a custom, by-the-way, of which the Ger
man had all he wanted in those old times 80
that he dispenses with anything of the sort to-
day-would perhaps be equally surprised If, in
his successors eyes, he observed the manner in
which, OF late, the worth of woman as an indi-
vidual and citizen has been publicly recognized.
her influence felt, her identity acknowledged
and Difference paid in a crisis than which she has
seldom had better opportunity Of displaying the
application OF noble and heroic qualities to the
passing hour. =.
The presence of the wives of the Cabinet min
listers in the scenes at and about the White
House since the attempted assassination, al
though very likely but trifling matter in itself,
yet In the general public acquiescence and I'M
their husbands in comfort and sympathy and
counsel at such time, the respect accorded to
their opinions. the place. in short, given to such
women as Mrs. Blaine and Mrs. MacVeagh, If all
OF no great moment in itself, is nevertheless in
dicative OF the gradual rise of womankind into
universal regard that has been going on long,
but half felt till such moments come as these
which are the tombstone Of all true metal
Rut although in quite another fashion from
that of the noble selfpossession of women be-
fore the world, amidst all the courage and cool
ness shown in these trying hours there has
been no conduct superior to the quiet beauty
OF Mrs. Edson's magnificent self-forgetfulness
and devotion. While men were pickering and
scuffiing over their rights and remedies, she, an
accomplished physician herself. of as good train
ing and standing as the best, calmly laid aside
all her professional pride and claim, and ex-
pended all her learning and her skill in simply
acting the humber part Of the untiring nurse,
Till, Frustrated by sleepess nights and blister
ing weary days, she at last leaves the patient
mending to mend herself. One need not discuss
done SO much; it is proud fact that woman
has done SO, and one reflects with some CLEAN
OF satisfaction on the circumstance that per-
haps the long generations of self-abnegatiOn to
which women, as a whole, have been trained,
have had their fruit at length in this great and
good behavior. That there is hardly woman
in the entire land, north or south, who would
not be glad, if she had the strength and science,
to render the service that Mrs. Edison has done,
may not be anything remarkable, nor that so
many women should spring with generous
hands and thoughtful devices and gifts to send
sck-room appliances and comforts to the suf-
ferer. but that this is SO perhaps becomes more
interesting as registering a state of feeling so
widely spread at home and abroad as to be
shared by the ruler of the leading nation of the
earth, the Queen of Great Britain 80 far break
ing through all the barriers of etiquette that are
thought by the faithful Briton to be necessary
for the uphoding of the throne itself, as to tee-
graph in her own name and person messages for
the wife who was passing through the fiery Or
deal through which she herself had passed. to
come out only upon the dust and ashes Of dead
happiness.
Meanwhile, from the patience of the old
mother in her empty house. from the gentle but
unblenching heroism and fortitude of the Presi-
dents wife, lustre Is shed upon all other
mothers and wives the world over, which goes
far to justify the Universal regard of which we
have spoken. 1t is well known that there may
be numberless wives at this very time in the
country going through quite as much as Mrs.
Garfield does in this relation, waiting on suffer-
ing husbands and fighting destruction with
their own hands and without the aids she has;
but it is proudly felt that, with the eyes of hui
mainly upon her, this sweet woman not only
does not fail in her place. but gives it new
glory, that glory which comes from the faithful
performance of terrible duty, the duty of buoy
ing up dying man above the abysses of death
and despair on the strong wings of her own
courage, the soul-withering task Of covering
with cheering smiles a trembling and breaking
heart. All wOmanhood feels that Mrs. Garfield
has not failed in it in this cruel hour, but has
really enlarged and ennobled it, and the heart
OF every wife in the wide land has gone out to
her in her trial, not as to the Presidents wife
merely, but as to the suffering wife of hus-
band whose life hangs by a thread, as a woman
holding post they may themselves at any day
occupy. and all Of whose terrOrs they have felt
beforehand, and in the imagination of which
they sympathiZe and ache and sorrow with her
quite as much as they thrill with pride to think
Of the place she takes in history.