Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-10-22
THE MODEL WIFE.

Lecture Of Rev. DR.. "nhtsss ~ tno nv
Presbyterian Church Last Evening
P.thos. Wit and Anecdotes Combine 70
pass a Pleasant and Profitable Hour.
The First Presbyterian Church was
we'll filled last evening by persons VINO
came m hear the lecture OF Rev. DR..
WilIitts, of Philadelphis, on the model
Wife" cI
Robert White in few brief remarks IN
which there was happy reference to
the lecture on Sunshine" which DIR.
Willitts delivered here come months
ago. 49,. ho
was cratlfied TO see such q large audi
snce present, as he understood there
vas a very Keene opposition going
ON. He stated that the mod
esty of woman's natur. caused US
fre0ueatly to overlook the almost ON.
nipotent power of her influence over the
character and destiny OF mankind. We
aye apt 10 forget that the richest bless
mos and mightiest influences are ire
oIently unobserved. 1t is the hidden
moistule that Waters the h)wer, that
gives growth to the tree, strength to the
vine, and development 70 the oak. The
noisy cataract is not so useful as the
ouiet stream which flows almost with
ont a murmur, and is known only by
the line of living verdure that marks its
course. So lis with the quiet and un.
obtrusiye influence OF woman compared
with the noisy and ostentatious power
OF man.
The most beautiful and elegant pic
ture. and the most striking portralture
of character found in Scripture is the
portrait of a model wife and mother.
And. ladies', it is a portrait drawn by q
mother for her princely son-the words
which King Lemuers mother taught
him. 49,
The lecturer then read with excellent
effect the beautiful passage in praise OF
the properties OF good vile, which may
be found in the 3lst chapter OF Proverbs.
This translation of the Hebrew poem
furnished the foundation OF DR.. Willitts
lecture. Uuan it he began to build the
walls OF solid logic, which, with the Or
naments OF rhetoric, the tasty displays
of wit, and the roof OF good advice,
soon presented the complete and beautl
ful editiCe. Each one of the good quail
ties OF the model Vile" referred TO in
this passage of Holy Writ was taken in
turn and praised and recommended TO
the ladies present for study and lmlta-
tiop. The lecturer made a COM
plele Analysis oil the pas
sage,-and the industry, the
neatness, the domestic economy
and the love for womanly ornaments OF
the "model wife," were commented upon
and commended as those qualities which
made "Her children rise up and call
her blessed, and her husband also to
praise her," Throughout this analysis
the Doctor INDUCED in scintillatlons oil
wit and passages OF pathos, which would
move his audience from hearty laughter
almost to tears.
In concluding, the lecturer desired to
call attention to the theatre OF woman's
activities and the fruits OF her labors:
| Where did this woman find field grand
enough Tor the exercise OF these quail
ties of mind and hearth 1t was III the
domestic circle, and this is the proper
theatre for the exercise OF the mind and
heart of woman. There are many
other spheres which woman can I'LL,
outside OF the home circle, with honor
TO herself and benefit 10 the race, but l
do saw with emphasis that do not be-
| lieve that God has given woman so
grand sphere, SO high and exalted
place as in the home circle. One has
sneered at women being employed with
babes and buttons. But it is the pres
eace OF the babe that makes the home
circle what it is. In that qli:t realm
the babe is born, its character moulded
aud the destiny OF an immortal SOU is
| fixed. Men become too rough in their
contact with the world for this work,
and it ia committed to women And 30,
| in Gods love and wisdom, He pillows
the infants head upon woman's
breast, where it may lecl the beating CT
a heart full OF patience, full OF gentle
ness, full of loye-the love OF mother.
She takes that babe at its birth and she
can mould it unto God. The old Scotch
proverb has said IAN ounce OF mother
is worth pound OF parsen,' and | be.
lieve il, though magnify my office as a
minister.
"Her children rise up and call her
| blessed: her husband is known when
he stitch at the gate among the Elders. /"
| The gates were the political centers Of
that day-the seats Of justice. There
was never Il man rich and great and
honored and blessed at the gates, but
that he came there by the moulding
hand OF his mother. Great men have
great mothers. When Lafayette Wis
ited Mrs. Washington and poured into
her ears his generous tribute in praise
OF her son, telling OF his grand achieve
ments, what did she say in reply? Sim.
ply this: "Well, sir, am not surprised
that George should do these things, for
George was a good boy" But George
was only what she had made him.
The lecturer said that husbands
should not refrain from praising their
wives for their good qualities, as there
is no praise 80 sweet as that which
comes from the lips Of those that love
DR.. Willitts concluded by giving some
good advice to tue bachelors present,
and expressing it in such manner as
to make the bachelors "smile" and put
the husbands in the best OF humor with
their model wives"