Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-11-10
JULIA WARD HOWE
On the Social Force OF Women. Which
is Often Mistaken for Power
The Error That
Frivolous Women Often Fall Into-The
True Mission OF the Sex-LOuise
Michel-'sMOths."

NEW YoRK, November THE Tribune |
reports that Mrs. Julia Ward Howe read |
lecture on "Woman az Social Power" last |
evening, at the house of Mr.. and Mrs. II. |
Herman, No. SO Wet Fifty-sixth street. |
The proceeds of the lecture were for the |
benefit OF the Rev. Mrs. Phebe Hanaford's |
church in Jersey City. After the lecture |
Mis- Clara Stutsman sang and Miss Congdon |
gave piano solo. The parlors were filed |
with an audience who gave Mrs. Howe the
closest attention. She said:
1 have been asked to speak to this COM
pany OF Women Social Power" But
l cannot begin to do this without enlarging a
little on the meaning OF the word POWER in
its social and moral application. Power is
often COMPOUNDED with force. The thought
OF power lie a very imperial one to mankind.
Man loves the conquest of the elements and
the material forces OF the universe, which his
intelligence converts into servants The
primitive ideas of human relation are held
10 by millions, where the new gospel is al
ready established in the most thoughtful
and heightened minds. The tyrannical atti-
tude of man in regard to woman, dismissed
as solecism by the saints of antiquity, is
yet obstinately held TO by The multitudes
Whole classes OF men, governing and gov
erned, cling with all the strength of their
superstition to the force which in other
times gave its support 10 power, but which
is now divorced from that fruitful union.
Women make this mistake equally with
men. Women love power, and are bound
as intelligent beings TO show their sense Of
its value.
A woman loves in man the power which
conquers, the feats of personal danger and
bravery which are not always heroism, but
| which women often mistake for it. Men
| lOva n no Of and
| tenderness, the power of combining endless
details into the great results of comfort and
beauty, the power OF resolving endless dis
cords into a continuous harmony. But most
of all men revere in women that mysterious
| egkrdtio, that power of the minds of women
over their senses, out of which springs all
| that is ideal in the relations of sex. The
error which am now trying to illustrate,
the installing force for power, is nowhere
| more common than in this very domain OF
/ sex. Sexual attraction is the most absolute
of the forces of nature. How constantly do
men and women mistake this force for a
power. Ii is no more a power than the at
| traction of gravitation which supports the
| building is the building itself. Power
! is something built upon force. The woman
| who mistakes her ability to attract men for
power will be built on universal conquest.
| She will endeavor 10 humble the proudest
spirit at her feet. Time, which tests
| power, will overthrow any Hfe-fabric
built on this foundation. Women are
force to-day as ever through the natural
attractions of sex. American women
| through this added freedom show q mental
| stature much higher than that of their Ed
ropean sisters. Perhaps there is ground to
| fear that the added force of women to-day
will lead many of them to mistake largeness
of opportunity for achievement. One of the
first aesthetics OF women is dress. 1t should
rapreSant W0manlV The lInes nf
beauty should be preserved without ex-
posture OF the delicate skin which makes the
beholder SILVER and should make the subject
blush. Why should glarins colors disturb
the harmony in young girls complexion?
Why should We dye the golden hair or pow
der the face with its evanescent roses pulsing
with the rhythmic heart, with lis silent elo
quence, its light and shadow utterauce?
Strange is it, but 1 fear true, that the dress
found so advantageous by women of an I'M
fortunate class sometimes becomes the preva-
lent fashion OF society. Strange that women
bred within the limits of decent homes and
helpful churches should be after led to
nulate this low attraction.
The chivalroIs poisoning of our early
society is now beginning to show its rich
harvest The fields are white already. And
To- the women, many of them, sit with
empty, idle hands, too trivial, too little in
terested in their own good and that of their
race to gather it. Rather would they stretch
their hands for the CAV weeds that grow in
the cornfieid, saying 1--WE like what is bright
to the sight" The vapid growing of the
silliest among the English aristocrscy, the
disdainful persiaage of the society French
man, the rudeness of the German, seem TO
be more congenial to them than what is best
and noblest in their own countrymau. The
noble resources of American life are not 10
be enjoyed without some meritorious effort
by individuals. The song of labor is the
music OF this golden hive; and its drones,
while they may be fed upon its honey, will i
have no experience of the effort which makes
the honey sweetest 10 those who gather it.
They will not have drawn from the heart of
life's blossoms their exquisite perfume. Men
and women of this kind enjoy Europe be-
cause it provides amusement for them, and
vast sums of money are spent in the annual
fashionable exodus.
There are some, and those high in Office,
who seek to introduce here the fatal system
of legislation which recognizes woman as Inc
instrument of base indulgence, and upholds
the right of man to no consider her In
Great Britain, France, Switzerland and Italy
good men and women are uniting their
efforts against it, making public attestation
of Its debasing effect on both xes. 1t Is
with sorrow that l see many of my own
countrywomen extending their hands 10
welcome 10 this country that which is least
worthy in the society of the old world-the
empty amusements which as far as possible
assimilate the gentleman TO The groom, the
awkward diction of men who hold TO the
feudal disre5pect for scholarship, who shoR
how little their enforced education has done
for them, the boorish manners of men who
are at home with horses, but not at all with
ladies. Young men talk club talk in groups
and leave the girls 10 take care OF Them
selves. Where shall women flee from the
dangers that threaten things; fatal 10
us and TO the humanity of which
we the nearest guardians. /
would seek this refuge in a religious and
pfayerful spirit. Not in that which IA
tigues with vain repetitions, with devout at
titudes, but spirit in which the determine
ton to do the best should be coupled with
the greatest anxiety to know the best. 1 am
impatient 10 see the good old traits l recog-
nize in womsnhood blossom out to a fuller
beauty. Why? The dull craftsman easily
learns to lay one brick upon another. And
we women, having the noble arches OF society
to build, take our bricks for toys, and con-
struct With them no defense for ourselves,
no refuge for others. We should step be-
tween the man and bis brute instincts, wave
out of sight what is rude and bestial aud
bring into sight all that is true, lovely, pure
and happy.
There will be homer for some of us in the |
number and Robustness of our descendants. |
Ii we nave never DOHcu " NiScf VI |
neglected and despised yirinA, Il y. M -
reSCueu 10 The fallen the hand OF help, In |
stead of pointing the finger of scorp, if we |
have made the way OF the transgressor hard |
to go and easy to return, why, then, whether |
we are remembered or forgotten, we shall |
depart from this world leaving some part of |
it the better and the happier for our presence |
10 it. We may not wear the bloody lsurels |
of a wicked victory, but we shall have fought |
the good fight, I'd our names will secure
place in the records of the veterans who,
like Napoleon's Old Guard, die when the
time comes, but do not surrender.
Nine. Cornu's Memoirs.
Mile Remains wedding, says the Paris cor
respondent Of the Pail Mall Gazette, will be
the prelude to great literary event-name-
ly, the publication of Nine. Cornu's memoirs,
letters and written reflections. Nine. Cornu
is often spoken of by the elder Nassau SEN
Tor. She was remarkable woman, both on
account of her personal qualities and her in
innate counexily with the second empire.
Her mother was the beautiful Nine. Lacroix,
lady of honor to Queen Hortense, Nine.
Cornu liked to be thought daughter of the
First Napoleon, whom she certainly res.m-
bIed. She was brought mp by Queen Hortense,
after whom she was called, and along with
Prince Louis Napoleon, at Arenenberg and
Augsburg. Being of an energtic disposition
she governed the prince and often boxed his
ears. Mime. Cornu was married to a painter.
She lived a good deal in Rome and was sus-
pected by the Papal government OF being an
Il