Weekly graphic. [volume] (Kirksville, Adair Co., Missouri) 1880-1949, 1884-07-11
WOMAN GOSSIP.
The Power, for Good or Evil. OF Wo,
neutrality-suspicious. Tor
Homework.
The Wages Of women---Amcrican
Beauty and Its Low
Average.
woMEN's POWER.

From his cradle TO his grave man re-
lies for his happiness upon the love Of
woman, saws southern writer. His
light. his Joy, his very life, depend
blindly and trustingly upon the mother
love that nurses his infant years, tends
his childhood. trains his youth, and re-
ioices In his manhood. Infinitely holy,
utterly sclf-sacrificing. pure, noble. and
beautiful is the maternal instinct
and. knowing the heights Of il, proving
its strength. seeing lis abnegations o.
self, men call il divine-and so realize
the love of God unto all humanity.
Yet, even from this fount of exquisite
tenderness. they turn their steps TO n
love more alluring. more enhancing,
more absorbing; they leave all and
cling TO their wives. possessing in them
everything. Wonderful and peculiar
is this great mingling Of human hearts,
of organisms irresistibly attracted. OF
souls that feel with and for each other,
Of two brains forming one mind, Of
two lives and loves from which spring
other lives and yet another love-pa-
rental affection.
This is true marriage. and in this
state woman is most lovely. Standing
on an equality with her husband. she is
adviser and assistant-the sharer OF
his happiness and his troubles, his
helpmeet, his comfort, his Joy.
That there are marriages far different
from this is true, most unhappily; but
even here woman shows her power
for evil if she chooses 10 curse, for
good IL she desires TO bless and en-
noble the life thus brought beneath her
personal influence. A great poet says
that
As the husband is the wife is; thou art mated
with u clown,
And the grossness OF his nature will have
weight 10 drag thee down.
This is entirely fallacious. 1t will
always be the strongest that leads,
whether their strength be If an intel.
lectual or moral force, and woman
of mind, of refinement, of honorable
nature, of ideality, could not fail to
modify and even correct the materially
that may exist in her husbands
thoughts, feelings, or actions, as his
very coarseness would serve to lessen
his power. A wife need not sink tc
the level of the clown" to whom she
Is mated" She can raise him, per.
haps slowly, but still surely, to hel
own standard. Let her first touch hi
heart-through pity, through shame
or even through his mere passions, bu
once possess power over that and i
will not be difficult to influence tn,
brain. If the soul can be made {,
respond to beautiful and refining agen
cies, the battle is won. 1t may take
lifetime, but woman car afford {,
spend even lifetime in such ennoblin,
endeavor.
A man finds his warmest, his mos
tender, his most unselfish friend in
woman. Possessing no interests tina
clash with his. she believes in hin
thoroughly and hopefully, and he
great faith in his powers encourage
him to act up to her standard of be
lief. She makes him feel that she trul
likes him. Her affection is fran
and free, and he appreciates her SYN
pathetic interest, her cheerful looks
her many little womanly ways tha
make all her surroundings in harmon
with herself. If weary, her sensible
quiet talk rests him; if discouraged
she finds q thousand ways to cheer hin
if too elate, her sound common sens
gives him the needed balance. Til
lamp of friendship burns clear an
bright between man and woman
by an emotion springing from the be-
impulses of human nature.