The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1882-1884, 1883-07-19

OF their family life.'' Such represen-
tations have been SO uniform that we
take it for granted they are facts uni
versally acknowledged, and, if so, it |
would seem to be time for some per.
sons amongst US to wake up sufi.
ciently at least to suspect the wisdom |
of their opinions as to tue woman's |
movement. As to the political status
of women in America, we have no |
disposition to enter into the contro.
versy. In our Judgment, 1t stands |
apart from the real question at issue,
and may be left to time for adjudica.
tion. What we do contend for is.
that inside of this particular discus.
sion as to political privileges very
broad space is open, clearly open,
and that it is the interest of every
man, not to hinder, but to help our
women to occupy it to the full, and
secure all its advantages.
No excuse exists for any other
opinion than favorable one on the
point we have specified. Women have
won their way to recognition as teach.
ers, editors, writer's, managers of
business, conductors of large enter.
prisss and they continue to work on
official positions, no less than in art
and science, to the approval and even
the admiration Of all unbiased obser-
vers Of their progress. Assuredly it
is high time to accept these facts. nn-
less stupidity be virtue, and if such
be the case, the old debate as to
woman's fitness for higher occupa-
tions and fair share of their immu.
mites and benefits might be properly
remanded to antiquarian solitude.
Dead issues, however, are very fasci.
mating to certain minds, owing per.
chance to the sympathy of their own
deadness. Such people are peculiar
IL insensible to public opinion and
it's endorsement of anything, and
their joy is
"What care how tar she be,
So she be not fair for me.''
And, furthermore, in this self.secured
progress of womanhood, we have
learned that every interest If busi-
ness, society, religion, she has touch
ed has taken new life and purity and
worth from her contact. This is per-
fectly certain. And, hence, it would
seem reasonable to infer that contin-
ued advancement on her part would
be a continued gain. On most sub.
jects this reasoning would be valid,
nor can we doubt that it would be
admitted in the present instance if
all our brains were large enough to
accommodate little of the present
and the future as well as the much
idolized past.
This sort of logic in acknowledge
ment of the vindicated claims Of our
new womanhood to sympathy and
honor. would appear to be all the
more rational since the progress It.
self has been singularly free from
every sort Of folly and extravaganza
to any extent obnoxious to criticism.
, A few of the ''strong- -minded'' have
, shown an extra amount Of antago'
nism, but the great majority of the
progressive women have been marvel
ously quiet, modest, and ladv-like in
the whole affair. Bold women are
!, impossible on any considerable scale
r Nature forbids that, since Nature
has given boldness as monopoly tt
r men. Our women have displayed
r courage, and courage is always th'
l ally Of beauty and delicate sensibili
: ties Courage never hardens. Cour
l age never lowers aims andaspirations
!. Courage is no braN Ter. and still less
a bully. And, accordingly, our wo
men have exhibited in this matte
one OF their finest qualities. viz: th
rejecting instinct Of their nature. bl
which, under all circHmstances'of of en-
e liyhtenment and culture, they refus'
}. the coarser elements aboundiEg IL
y common life, while assim,lating thu
|, better and the best.-Er.
PETROLEUM.
l. The oil production Of the United
. States is full OF interest to ever,
i householder. The discovery OF petro
n leum in Pennsylvania some twenty
,. three years since has worked wonder