Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1883-11-09
THE BENEVOLENT SOCIETY.


said Mrs. Petrihna Flint, as she bus
tied into the house of her neighbor,
1--WE called to labor with you, to
speak some words of admonition to
you. We've had such a delightful
monthly meeting of the society for
the uplifting Of women, such an inter
est-such an array Of our leading
minds-such charming papers read.
There was Miss Enthusiastic Chirp,
from New York. She had a fine pa
per on the Needs of the Nineteenth
Century 1t was very instructive,
containing almost the identical view
which ], very much more deliberately,
presented in u paper read before the
woman's congress last year. Then
such an able address by Mrs. Livonia
Thumpem Wagrulile. She is the
most powerful intellect Ill our move
ment, only her dognatic manner and
her tendency to scolding | think rem
ders her less influential. And you
were present ut none Of our sessiOnsI
emo, Mrs. Flint, said Mrs. Gar
land, when She got Il chance to wedge
in n word edgewise, q" i had such u
busy week of it that could not spare
an hours time. saw, or rather some
of the family remarked, that the daily
papers were full of your meeting. l
hope you all enjoyed it
These domestic cares which you
are giving yourself up to 50 sIavlsh-
w." said Mrs. Flint somewhat loftily,
'are drudgery sheer drudgcry. The
more You dcvc and delve for your
family, the more they expect it. You
make them selfish just by your sacrl-
flee. Besides, my good woman, it
narrows your mind, contracts your
gympathicS. You live merely in your
own little circle. You should come
into our society Our Sympathies go
out in warm, catholic, embracing
benevolcncc for womankind. Oh,
you should read the resolutions that
we adopted framed several Of
them. They contain the kernel of
the great question. They pre-
sent the great issue of the nine
teenth century. My dear woman,
you must break this crust of domes-
tic care, and come out and let your
heart and mind expand III the warm
sunshine of our societies for the aid
and enlightmcnt Of the sex.
81 trust | am not quite as narrow
as You would think me" SAID Mrs
Garland rcddcning. My cares dur
ing the week of your meeting were
not cntlrcly Of the household. Indeed,
quite neglected them; but it is Il sick
ly time among the poor of our ward
and | was trying To help them little. -
"Thc SICK answered Mrs Flint,
the sick are one of the questions |
have reflected upon a Great deal. am
preparing a paper now To be read be
fore the sub committee on the lIy-
gicnic Aspect of Social Development. "
1t is to be free inquiry into the causes
of sickness; and, | have faith to be
lieye, it will maugltrate great prevent
i've movements To eliminate all the
conditions which produce disease. it is
a great subject Will take me three or
four days To w"itc my paper. have
often thought of forming a society for
the Eclp of the sick sort of local
benevolent organization To get our
work into cooperative form, but,
dear me, my time is 50 taken up with
the duties of the several organizations
To which ! belong, and IN which |
may say have either the rUddcr or a
laboring oar in hand that don't see
how | can spare the time to organize
another. Let me see | must make
my report rs secretary of the Woman's
Association for the Augmentation of
Domestic Felicity. Then as cores
pondng secretary of the society for
the Abolition of the Disabilities of
Sex, | must write Il brief view of our
progress to be laid before kindred
society in England Then, | must at
tend an executive session of the So
cicty of Female Emancipation, and go
as a delegate to the National Congress
of Maternal Solicltude. Besides this
| ami on the finance commit
tee of the society of Mothers
for the Reclamation of Way
ward Sons With all these and my
correspondence with the leading minds
of our movement, and my articles to
the "Woman's Shrek and the Moth
cr's Cry" and the "Matron's Maya
zine, it is quito out of the question
for me to- do anything more in the be-
ncvoiont way Just NOW. After some
of these labors are of my hands |
might be able to draft scheme for
an organization to help some % our
local sick. But ii will be some months
before | can reach It, | ann already
graphing with some Of the greatest of
the benevolent problems of this nine
tecuth century
The good lady took her departure
with many admonitlons to the hostess
to join in the great movements and
unite with some of the progressive So
cieticS which were attracting ST. much
attention.
"A good. kind woman, but weak,
she observed mentally rs she walked
down the street from her call. "A
good woman but weak. She was
bright and sunny and n fine scholar
when we were n the seminary togeth-
en-; but she has let her light be snuff
ed out by the enveloping gloom of do
meStic care. She is oyerShadowed by
husband who claims to be intellect
ual. Poor thing"
BLESS me- murmured Mrs. Garland
rs she closed the door upon the de
parturc Of her guest. Bless me, If |
had to bother my poor head with all
those society affairs should not have
time to take care Of my little flock, let
alone kind act, now aud then, for
my suffering ucighborS.
After disposing Of Il few household
matters Mrs Garland put on her bon
net and shawl and stepped into q
neighbours across the way. There she
and another happy wife were busy
with some plans to make some cloth
ing for the children of n sick widow.
An hour was spent in cutting and
basting and the work went cherrily
on. II believe said Mrs. Garland
that l will Just run up and see Mr.
Horton. He told me that he would
aid us in our little charities, if would
only call ON HIM" And suitiug the
action to the word she was soon on
her way.
Certainly" said Mr. Horton, Il
am only too glad to do something.
Would some flannel, some underwear
and some hosiery come amiSSl Twill
send down parcel with the greatest
pleasure And you say the lady has
a young son. | need boy in the
store here, and am inclined TO give
the little fellow a trial Do you think
he will answer
II really do he is bright and
manly and very helpful TO his mother
He is a natural little gentleman in his