The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-12-21
ONE OLE DIR BUOKLBYIs WoMEN,

public morals, 1t has been the custom OIL every
truly good writer Of the masculine persuasion
to present to the world, at frequent intervals,
normally constituted men see her. These
pictures have varied but little from time i'm
memorial The being who was honored by
having been chosen as a helpmeet for man, or
evolved by natural selection, as the case may
be, is always the same enticing creature,
whether portrayed by ancient or modern mas
ters. There are some differences of detail,
but one model would serve for all. 1t is
hardly necessary to mention the ideal woman's
chief characteristics, as every intelligent
reader is familiar with them. Who does not
know that she is comely to look upon, accom-
plished in all household arts, loving to her
husband, softvoced and yielding in DISPOSE
ton, especially when her views might come
in conflict with her lord and masters, and,
above all, sweet temperedP In all other vir
tues she may fail, yet will cher works praise
her" if she be always amiable meek and mild.
Of old the husband Of this pattern wife,
whose '4ongue was the law of Kindness" was
'known in the gates where he setteth among
the elders of the land;" now he is enabled to
prosecute his duties to the public and to him
self without hindrance, because his wife
meets him at the door with smiles on her
face, fresh ribbons at her throat, and re-
ligiously refrains from troubling him with
her paltry domestic affairs, and is always and
ever free from anger. The woman is the
same now as then. Men may differ on ques-
ton of politics and religion, but the records of
ages show them to be unanimous on the
question of amiability as applied to
the opposite sex. No woman who
reads ancient or current literature but must
be well aware of what is expected of her by
the coming man." The literary censors of
society do not allow her to forget the lesson;
but in season and out enumerate the virtues
she must possess if she aspires to be the fit
wife of any sort of man whatsoever. In fact,
it may be remarked in parenthesis that the
meaner the man and the more violent his
temper, the more firmly does he insist that
his spouse shall be sweetly submissive.
In view, then, of the lesson which so many
good men have faithfully taught the exhor-
tations to women to be good, and sweet, and
virtuous and their husbands will love them,
the precepts upon precepts by which they have
adiured them to be amiable-in view of all
this effort, what must be thought of the con
duct of the Rev. DR.. Buckley in speaking
favorably of the wife of John Wesley in his
sermon at the Baltimore centennial celebra-
ton? DR.. Buckeyes text was, "What Meth
odism owes to woman, and in the enumera-
ton the shrewish Mrs Wesley came third
Although she was so violent in temper that
she is Thought by some to have been insane
the reverend Doctor advanced the opinion that
Methodism is greatly indebted to her. The
obligation is not by reason of her own efforts
at evangelization of sinners; indeed it is not
known that she made such attempts, her en-
ergy being supposed to have been all expend
ed in the endeavor to make it hot" for
John. Great vigor, if not power, in
prayer, is not incompatible with fiery
temper but it is not of record that
the daughter-in-law of the sanity Susannah
was gifted in this direction. No, the service
to Methodism and the world by this woman
was accomplished solely by means Of her yix-
enish tongue. By goading her godly husband
into that state of mind only to be understood
by those who have encountered a tornado in
petticoats and fear return of the same, Mrs.
Wesley succeeded in giving him what would
now be called an object lesson in hades.
Continuous action on her part kept the burn
ing hereafter constantly pictured before him,
and to obtain surcease Of sorrow he sought to
save sinners from a future punishment such
as he endured on EARTH DR.. Buckley quotes
Wesley himself as saying that if his domestic
life had been happier than it was and his wife
more amiable he might have been beguiled
into pleasing her whims, and have had his
mind drawn away from the great work of saw
ing souls. In short, if the wife had been
sweet and gentle, and had curbed her wrath
as all women have been enjoined to do, the
husband would perhaps never have been
known as the founder of Methodism. If Mrs
Wesley had been very, very good, John might
have taken it into his head to be horrid
With this lesson and example set before
women of the day by the great original Meth
odist and his eminent ministerial follower
what becomes of the picture of the ideal
woman so long held up by other men,
and which differs so widely in its