The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1881-10-01

requires something more than the Kaleidoscope
comment, which presents no distinct image, and
The fact is that the Press has mission,
and In the South especially, amission of tremen-
dous and vital importance. Opinion here has to
be diverted from old channels Of thought worn
deep by antiquated institutions. We are now
going through tedious and painful process Of
transition Tho system OF social organization
prevailing before the war was essentially mediR-
val The planter on his hereditary acres, sur
rounded by his scrfs obedient to his nod, was ID
every social sepse fcudal baron. While this
system developed and sustained the generous
and chivalric virtues, which are everywhere the
ornament and the flower of hereditary caste, it
was not In harmony with the development OF
civilization under the institutions Of the century
In the other parts Of the world. The chatelain
was generous self.reliant, brave and hospitable,
but his inveterate and inordinate individuality
excluded him from all concert with his partners
in the social experiment. Inc sequ,sl@ OF THIS
out the social compensations that moderated its
cxcesses and clothed its deformities, have fol-
lowed us into the new relations, into which We
have been precipitated by the results Of a disss
trous war. The capacity for fusion and concert
of effort indispensable for the advancement Of
necessary social enterprises is almost entirely
wanting. Immigration, manufactures, internal
improvements OF all kinds dependent ON CO.
operative effort, are languishing, not on account
OF the inadequacy Of our resources but Of these
defects of our social and industrial organization
have selected this feature of defective and
anachronous organization In the SOUTH only as
illustrative of the problems which are waiting
for solution, and OF the responsibilities of the
Southern press in the direction Of public opinion.
But expresee in broad and general terms that
responsibility consists In expoundlng the new
civilization to people, trained IN practical affairs
under traditions which are inappncablet to present
emergencies; In diyerting attention from politics
to business In stimulating hopeful ambition;
in producing unity of feeling and concert Of &C.
ton; In extinguishing sectional and religt Jus
and race acrimony; in exciting interest In moral
an enthusiastic attachment for the fraternal and
patriotic ideas Of the new era, which VIII restore
our waste places I'LL our marts with the hum OF
prosperous industries, and make our abandoned
fields the homes of great, united, and free
people.
press which caunot be lightly evaded and In the
performance Of which 1t viii find great reward.
In tho framework of our institutions orders OF
nobility are established, not by the accident of
birth or by the accident of a brutal physical
superiority but by the contribution that every
man may mako to tho advancement and the anne
Iteration Of the people. The cavalier who, in the
old romantic days. pranced in coat Of mail and
with lance at rest over helpless and unarmed
mob now lies with his legs crossed in the gloom
of olden cathedrals; the cavalier OF today holds
a throttle and drives an iron horse on the errands
of a benefic.nt civilization. Tho knight Grant,
who entered the lists In the Wild wanfonness of
his unchecked martial enthusiasm, sleeps by the
side of his outworn sccoutrcments; but the
knight of to-day strides the arena Of opin-
ion, and his most powerful implements are
the thoughts that marshal men together
for realizing. the ideals he presents. herein
lies the nobility of the literary profession. Its
tokens of superiority are not disclosed on
shields emblazoned BIZ barbaric heraldry, but
by the devices Of peaceful and useful industry.
Its order of knighthood is the TORCH BRARER Of
II - T. ~ sta A,<
cheon Is the electric light flashing In the dark
ness Of the night; and It's devoir is to illuminate
the path trod by civilized man in his march to
liberty, Fraternity and peace.
On motion Of Mr.. Lambert it was ordered that
tho address be spread upon the minutes and, on
Mr.. Whites motion, vote of thanks was given
Col Cross. e
Tho following essay d,.he Cosducation of the
Sexes, written by Mrs. Ella Bentley pursuant to
the request of the President of the Association,
was read by the Secretary:
co-EpUcATIoS OF TUE SEXES
Seek to DO good, but aim not TO be great;
a woman's noblest station lie retreat
Her fairest virtues fly from public sight;
Domestic worth--that shuns too strong light"
When the first glistening rays Of the newmade
sun stole tremblingly through space and walked
with roeeate fingers the slumbering form Of
primeval man, his}wondering eyes beheld.
That work which mado creation rest
Because Eternal Providence thought her best
Of all His ak days labor
Woman!
Since then. cycles have sped adown the tide of
Time and been garnered into Eternity, Intellect
has set aside the dark theories of bygone ages,
and Science and Discovery have made giant
strides across the sluggish str eams Of Ignorance
and Superstition.
The present of woman stands glowing CON.
trast to her past s1bjugatcd, eontemned with
noticeable fact that only among civilized classes
has she attained her rightful position.
History is replete with descriptions of the
DECEASED condition Of the female sex. The
Esquimaux woman assists in building the houses
of ice that form the common habitation and in
procuring the necessities of life, warming the
frozen gauntlets of her lord and master within
her pulsing bosom the women OF Montenegro
are not only debarred from all social enjoyment,
main arc scarcely allowed freedom Of thought or
action In Turkey women are regarded merely In
the light Of progenitors Of the human race, and
beauty CT face and figure command more respect
than that Of brain or intellect.
The elevation attained by women in more
enlightened countries and notably In our own
land Of progress and freedom, presente to the
thoughfful mind indisputable evidence that it Is
any special effort or innate qualities or force Of
character displayed by the female.
The co-education OF tho sexoe Is subject
which, . few months hence will engage the
serious attention of Louisiaua'e legislators. and
tbese grim walls, that upheld themselves &C
proudly during tho din and smoke Of battle and
whose gaping wounds have been so lately healed
will witness the decision Of this important ones
ton 90 far az Il affects our public institutions Of
learning-a question to which, In the rearing o.
her offspring, Mother Nature unconsciously
furnishes the only answer. Her unerrfng finger
points unswervingly TO the divcrgiDg paths Of