The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-05-22
WOman's Work.

Lie Sllheu SlleuI power Ol WOLldu |
is wonderful. 1t is wonderously |
beautiful when, as it mostly is, tits
engaged in works which elevate and
refine our common gross human nat
ure, or when it is ministering un-
selfishly, self-sacrifcingly, at the bed
side of the suffering, while it laves
the fevered brow or binds up the
bruised and broken spirit. Woman's
power Is discord In strife, if the term
is admissible. Her face Is set against
the strife of men, against the passions
which produce strife:
"Beauty's eyes should ever be
Like the twin stars that soothe the sea,
And BeautyS voice should whisper peace
And bid the storms of battle cease"
1t is, and has ever been, the glory Of
the south, that her women have ever
been pure, and unworldly. They are
not traders and traffickers, and their
very helplessness in the ways of bust
ness is their chief charm. The con-
trast between the loneliness and trust
fulness of woman and the ruggedness
of stern manhood, cannot be too
strong. Equality between the sexes
would soon pull woman down to
mans level; 1t could never elevate
man to hers. Our southern women
are soft, gentle, womanly. Who
would change them if he could ?
Who would have the maidenhood
and matronage of this fair southland
become the hard-faced, hard-hearted
shrewd traders that one encounters
in other lands? The very womanly
weakness of our mothers, wives and
sisters constitutes the germ Of their,
power over us. They cannot be too
careful how that power is welded. 1t
is vast power. 1t is omnipotent and
all-masterful How necessary then
that it be directed in the right chan
| mel. Woman at her own hearthstone,
in her own sacred temple of home is
regal queen, crowned and sceptered
and the manhood of her own king
dom, her willing and happy subjects
Her life's work is done within those
sacred precincts. Her legitimate
efforts are bounded by the
confines OF home, or those of the hos.
pital, the sick bed, the domains of hui
man misery or the church. In either
spot, or In either character, she Il
grand in her beauty, in her loneliness
in her helpless womanliness.
These reflections are called out by
The devotion exhibited by the noble
ladies of st. Dav1d's parish and theil
friends, in behalf Of the church. A
church is to be built. A count ant
comparison of cost and resources re
veals the fact that there is the usua
deficit between the object sought ant
the means to accomplish. Al
once, and without stopping t.
count the cost to them either in labor
discomfort or in money, these beauti.
full ladies, these dear ones in dimity
fling themselves into the breach, and
with the work of their own soft hands
they propose to make good the differ
ence which their faithful priest finds
will exist between his resources il
sight and those required or demanded
by the increasing needs of the parish
for larger church edi6ce. Thei
Art Loan, thus far, has been a sue
cess. They will realize handsomel,
from it, and their assistance
will be felt. 1t will never b,
forgotten. What if religion b,
a cunningly devised fable" a
the infidel claims? 1t is granC
so long as it holds the children O.
earth to such works of purest unself
ishness and loftiest devotion. If
fable, it Is blessed one indeed, anC
belief in it and work for the ends o.
its high, noble, pure and unselfsf
purposes, the noblest mortal being.
can engage in. Let US have thu
church. with its women, its priests
its robes, its festivals, AND ITS BELLS
All ale sacred, all are holy, and maj
a far better animal with them thar
| he could possibly be without them
All honor to the noble ladies of st
David's, as to those genuine men who
stand by them to encourage and as
sist.