Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1881-07-08

person should monopolize so much
time" remarked lady in Boomers
near Violet.
1t is quite probable Mrs. Gordon
may not be called upon for her paper"
observed Miss Jones Winters quietly.
She has done her share l think - we
must give all a chance. No doubt the
paper is excellent, but We cannot hear
all the good things at one session"
81 scarcely see how a woman, who
devotes so much time to toilets as does
the elegant Mrs. Gordon, can do justice
to an elaborate paper" observed Mad
am Boomer with quiet sarcasm. IF
women talk and write on emancipation,
like to see them illustrate it in their
lives"
Violet looked for Mrs. Gordon's pa
per with considerable interest. but it
was unavoidably crowded out" so the
minutes said, though several inferior
ones could have been better spared,
and many aimless discussions might
have been omitted with no detriment
to the proceedings But the wire
pullers who had resolved that Mrs.
Gordon should not distinguish herself
further, succeeded in keeping her pa
per in the background.
Mrs. Burton, whose sweet and Iowa
bic character seem to breathe in every
word and act, was by the majority Of
the ladies present treated with cold dis
tain. Those who mad not heard the
old scandal connected with her life
were informed that one existed, and
that the originators of this association
regretted the presence of any person
of that kind, as they claimed to be a
blameless body"
"But is not the life of this woman be-
yond reproach, now?" queried one dar-
ing dissente. Surely, whatever may
have been her early errors and follies,
she cannot be aught but a noble wo-
man and wear the face she does; be-
sides | have heard her highly spoken
of by her neighbors.
ooh, yes; since that old affair she
has been very exemplary in her con
duct-quite model of propriety. But
you know we do not care to admit a
woman to our midst who has been SO
scandalized. We must maintain the
reputation OF the convention"
The last meeting of the convention
was quite Informal. Business being
disposed of, and the session at an end,
and the next place of meeting fixed up
on, and new converts added to their
ranks, the ladies made themselves gen
orally agreeable, congratulating each
other upon their separate and united
successes, and the general uplifting and
"cultivating" effect of the session.
Mrs. Odessa Nottingham Smith
sought out Violet Gray.
"My dear" She said, II do not see
your name among our new members.
| fear we have fixed upon place of
meeting SO far distant you will not feel
that you can attend; but you know we
want to give this rare opportunity to
all alike. | trust, however, you have
derived some benefit this session >
IL have in one way" answered Nio-
let frankly. Il shall more than ever
and neveksigh after larger field; for
| find as much that is noble in my own
narrow life, as much that must be APP
preciated by the Great Ruler. and less
that is unworthy and belittling than [
find in the lives of many of these
emancipated women"
Really" cried the amazed Odessa;
really, Miss Gray, | must ask you to
explain SO strange an assertion. What
have you heard at this session of the
finest minds in two states, that can be
termed 'belittling, l pray?"
Gossip and malice, responded Nio-
let quietly, "just what we are apt to
hear where any large number Of
women meet together. | should have
been prepared for it at a sewing circle
or meeting of society women, but |
confess | was unprepared to find it In
this emancipatcd congregation Of fine
minds. One of the first things to greet
my ear was an old, dead and cold scan
dial concerning the most loveable and
womanly member of the association.
Next | heard of the low origin of one
Of the prominent members Then !
happened 70 overhear few wire-pull-
ers plan to keep brilliant woman in
the background, and they succeeded
| also heard an elegantly alfred woman
sheer at the masculine garb of one of
her sister associates, and the sister asso-
ciate in turn condemned the fashiona-
bic dress of still another. This is not
emancipation from woman's tram
mels-this Is not reaching the platform
men occupy Men do not meet at
conventions to backbite and cliticise,
to rake up old scandals. They meet
To exchange views, TO combat each
other if need be, squarely and fairly,
but in good open warfare. You may
succeed in opening the trades and pro-
fessions to women by your papers and
your speeches; but you will never sue
coed in becoming truly emdncipdted
from the worst hindrance to woman's
true culture and growth, until you rise
to the moral height that scorns
gossip, and puts all scandal and tale
bearing and personal envy and jeal-
ousy down in the dust under your feet,
where it belongs. You will never be
come broad-minded, as you desire to
be, until you feel yourself so strong
and safe and sure III your own unsul-
lied virtue and moral worth, that YOU
are not afraid to meet and exchange
views with one whose past life may
have been darkened by cloud | do !
not say, admit or countenanCe untrue |
women to your midst; far from it. |
But | do say. treat women like Mrs.
Burton with all due kindness. and en-
courage them to live the good life, and
think the noble thoughts they are striv-
ing to, instead of holding back Your
garments and retailing to every new
conner some old tale of error These
are few Of the things that impressed
me unfavorably, with your own doubt
at the bottom of the excellent project,
Mrs. Smith, and now shall go back to
my little round of duties, praying more
fervently than ever to be kept from all
envying and striving after vain glory,
and more than ever content and salts
tied with the work given me to do
"A strange, crotchety young person"
Mrs. Odessa Nottingham Smith was