The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1884-03-28
WOMAN AND HOME.
Charming Women and Women in
Earnest-.-Lack of Balance.
Women Who Are in JOurnalism--T The
Correct Thing for Men, Home
Hints--Peter Cooper and
Poor Women.
TSusan N. Carter in The Century.]

[Susan N. Carter in The Century.
During the first year of my acquaintance
with Mr.. Cooper, Frequently told him stories
of our pupils who were very poor, or were
making extraordinary efforts to remain in
the art school. Finding, however, that such
cases could never be mentioned without his
Immediately volunteering to aid them, as
matter of honor l soon ceased to speak to
him of instances which would enlist his SYM
pathy. In spite of this, however, now and
then some case came up of girl in unusually
difficult circumstances. She had, perhaps,
come from the far west or the south, and was
away from her friends; or was one OF many
children, or had saved, painfully, the money
to keep her at the Cooper union. The story
was told to explain or illustrate some
outside matter, and it did not occur to me
that Mr.. Cooper would feel it as an appeal
to his charity. But so constant was his habit
of sympathy, and so strong his desire to do
good, that on such occasions his hand would
be instantly in his pocket, and before could
perceive what he was about, a bill was slipped
into my hand, as if he were hardly willing
should think what he was doing, and he said,
"This may help her, perhaps, to get better
food;" or, "You can send if she needs any
thing specially; but do not say where it came
FROM" These words were spoken in "a tone
so full of kindness, and yet so absolutely
without ostentation, that never did tell the
recipient. The feeling in Mr.. Cooper was too
sacred prompting to be spoiled with any
touch of earthly vanity. Truly he did not
wish his left hand to know what his right
hand was doing; and, by instantly speaking
on some other subject, he tried to make me
forget the incident which had occurred.
Many time, stories about pupils who had
become prosperous through their education
at the Cooper union were repeated to him
either by letters or by the people themselves,
or told him incidents which it seemed but
due that he should know. Such need of
praise, SO far from ever raising an expires
sion of vanity or pride in him, was received
In the meekest spirit; and yet these were the
results for which he was giving time, and
money, and life. "All want" he said, "is,
that these poor women shall earn decent and
respectable hvings, and especially that they
shall be kept from marrying bad husbands" i"
This subject OF unhappy marriages seemed
to be very prominent one in Mr.. Cooper's
mind. That women were often imposed upon,
were ill-used and broken down. he had
lifely conviction; and all his chivalry and
sense of fatherly protection were enlisted to
save them, SO far as he could, from these
ordinary misfortunes. While the world is
now occupied with the question of what
women can be taught, their 'higher educa-
tlon," and many kindred subjects, Mr..
Coopers acute genius discovered, as by in
tuition, many years ago, the relation of
women of the middle class to society, to in
dustries, and the family. He saw that many
of them could not marry and he realized
what must be the forlorn position of num-
Der of elderly daughters of poor man. He
had noted the dangerous likelihood of giddy,
ignorant young girls marrying anybody for
home, even if the men they married were
dissipated or inefficient; and he had the
tenderest pity for poor widows or deserted
wives. He talked many times, and at great
length, on these subjects, and all ~cireuulnn n
stances and any sort of incidept. brought I'D
this desire of his heart, to ,keIp women to be
harpX indet.e.saaSs3eesart AID vi1tuous.