New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-11-03
SOCIAL POWER OF. WOMEN.

FORCE OFTEN MISTAKEN FOR PowER-THE Err
RoR SOME WOMEN FALL ISTo-TBE TRUE MISSION
OF IHR SEX.
Mrs Julia Ward Howe read lecture on :" Women
as social Power" last evening. at the house OF
MIR and Mrs. II. Herman, No. SO West Fifty-sIxth-
ST. The proceeds OF the lecture were for the benefit
of the Rev. Mrs Phehe Hanaford's Church in
jersey City. After the lecture, Miss Clara Stuts-
man sang and. Miss Congdon gave a piano solo,
The parlors were filed with an audience who gave
Mrs Howe the closest attention. Among them were
ex-Mayor Ely. Mss Emily Faithful Mrs. William
Courtney, Mr.. and Mrs. T.. G. Stedman, Daniel W.
Herman, Mr. and Mrs ID. G.. Croly, Mr.. Isaac
Pelser. Mr.. and Mrs. g. K. Bishop, Miss l.. b. At
wood, Mr.. William Leask Mrs. john Bigelow.
Smith f.. Lane. Miss Florence Newton. Dr. De Gar
no. Mrs. Baruch, Mrs. II. Qauz. Samuel CAM. Mrs
Fanny Barrow Colonel Daw Mr.. and Mrs. Fake,
Miss Fake, Mr. and Mrs. Vincent G. King Mrs. I.
Smith. Mrs Clymer. Z. g. MinzesheiIner and Rob
ert b. Roosevelt. The lecture was IN part as fol-
lows:
have been asked TO speak TO this company Of
Women "a Social Power" But cannot begin 10 dc
this without enarging little on the meaning OF the
word power in social and moral application Power
is OFTEN cOnfounded with force. Ihe ioHghI OF power
Is very imperial one to mankind Mon loves the con
quest OF the elements and the material forces OF the
universe, which s Intelligence converts into servants
Tue primitive ideas or human relations are hed 70 Dy
minons where the gospel already established IN
most thoughtful and Oh toned minds The tyran-
meal aCtude OF IN regard to woman, dismissed as
a by the saints OF antiquity Is yet oOsunately
held 70 by the muluudes Whole classes OF men: gov
elnng ana governed cling WIN All the strehgn oi ne
superstition the force which in other
it support ,5 TO ,gH GTsF uD, S@t
Women make tais mistake equally with men. Women
love power and bodnd ielgent beings to snow
A woman loves in the power which conquers the
feats or personal danger and bravery wch are no a.
Wa herUisin but women often mistake Tor IT.
Men love In women the power OF patience and tender
the power Of combining endless details INTO the
great results Of lori and beauty the power
OF resolving endless discOrds into continuous Aar-
mony But moss OF all men revere In women That mys-
teriDs egkrdi6 that power OF ne minds vi womeG over
their out OF when springs all Tat is ideal IN the
Illustrate mistsking for power, nowhere
more common than in this very domain OF sex sexual
attraction is he most absolute OF the OF
How constantly do men an women mistake TINS force fOr
o power. 1t ID more power IMAM tne attraction OF
graytauOn which supports the building ~ the building
i-seit Power Is something Duilt upon IOrce Inc WO
man 10 mslase her ability attract for power
vii ne brlt on universal conquest. she will eudeavOr
to humble the prodaes spirit at ner ieet Tine whlcn
tnls iounuAtOn Women force tpday AS ever
tUrOu-n tue natural attractions Ofee1 American womb
through added freedom SHOW mena! stature nuch
higher than mat OF IneiT European SISTERS Perhaps
ground fear that the added force OF women
to-day will lead many OF them TO mistake largnness OF
opportunity for acneyement one o the hrst .eslhelcs
o. women dress. IL snuuld represent wOmany re
The lines Of beauty sD"ud be preserved without
the exposure the duhCdte shn WIlcD makes Tue pc
holder znyer and should make the subject Oush. Why
should glartng coors disturb Tue haImouy III !o1nns
girls complexion Why should We dye the
golden hair powder the face WIN lts
evdnescent roses pusng WIN the rhy tulhic heaItl
it, silent elJqueucr ITS light and shadow utternce
strange but | true, tldt the "f'7s iOuuI 80
advantageous by women OF an uhOr.uha ct-s sohle
times becomes enc prevalent fashion Of society strange
tuai women bred "hlu the ults OF ueccnN uouSs Sl
helpful cnurcnes sAOud DC after lcd To eAua'e AI 10"
attraction. -, .,..
is now beginning to show It's rch harvest.
The tells white already And 10! ,the
"anas TOO Trivial TOO httle interested in their own
good and that tHeir to gather IL Rather would
the coruueld, saying We Ike what Is bright to the
sight" raDid growing Of the sillest among the
rIf1h an he Al lain
society Fre cnnan the rudeness Of the Grrna 20
be more congenal to them tnan what Is best ana
modest IN their country The noble reson crs
Vi American life are not To be enjoyed without some
eBOu by Individuals The soug OF TABOR i
tue music golden hive and its drones while they
may be fed upon It's money, VIII nave no eApeehcc OF
the makes honey sweetest 10 those who
"a uer They viii have drawn from the heart OF
lies blossoms their exquisite perfume Men ana women
or thi, kind enjoy Europe because provides
neut them, and Of money are spent IN the
annual fashionable exodus
There some, and those high in office. who seek to
Introduce here the fatai system OF legislation which
recognizes woman the instrument OF base indulgence
anu IL no DIS right OF mau to so consider her. IN
Great Britain. Frace, switzerland AID Italy good men
women are uniting their eiorts AGAINST IL making
public attestaton OF IT'S de0aslng eject on Doth
II Is with that set many OF my own country
women extending tner nands To WecOhe 10 LUIS cy-I
try that wnlch Is LEAST worthy IN the society
OF the ODD World-the empty amusements when as iar
awkward dicuon Of men VINO Aoid 10 me lendal as
respect scholarship. wno show how little their en-
forced education mas done for them the D0or sh manners
of men no home with horses, bu not nj all with
ladies'. Young talk club talk in groups and
Where snal women flee from the dangers that
threaten things; fatal TO us aud TO the
humanity of which the nearest guardians. |
would seek tins refuge in 1Ous AM pra' eru splr-
it, Not In that hicn fgues with van rcpottons with
devout attudrs. hut spirit in which The &c ermnatIOn
10 90 me snOuld be led with the greatest anX
iety TO know the best. am impatient to the good
traits recognize wOmanhOOd blossom out 10 fuller
beauty. Whyl The uull craftsman easily learns 10
ay one bick upon another And we women,
having the noble arches society to build, take our
rc, for toys and with them defence Tor
ourselves, refuge for others We should sp between
the man ana his instincts wave out of gAt wLat
is ru e and besta bring into sight all that is true,
lovely pure and happy.
1nere honor for some of Us In tic number and
roDustpess OF descendants II We nave
never bowed to crowned vice. or neg
lrcted and uespised virtue, il We have reac4e Ell
10 Inc fallen tine hand Of help, instead OF pointing the
finger OF sc0rn II we have made the way OF TIE rams
gre,sor hard to 20 and easy to return, why, then,
whether We are remembered or tOrgO ten we shan de-
par from this world leaving some part OF II the better
and tine happier for prcse zee IN H. We may not
wear the DloOIy laurels q wicked victory, out we
shall nave fought good hs, and our names WELL Sc
cnrr a place m the records OF tue veterans WhO, NE
NapoleOne Ola Guard, lie when the time comes but
DO not surrender