The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1884-08-22

Woman As a Helpmate.
"a perfect woman. nobly planned
To warn, 20 comfort and command 81

n ptritct woman, nODly planned
To warn. 10 comfort and Command"
The high vocation of women as mon
itors of tho family circle seems never to
have received the serious consideration
it deserves Advice so commonly Civ
en- 10 women in regard TO physical
comforts of their households Is, for the
most part unnecessary. A true wo-
manly instinct prevents the majority
from neglecting these minor matters.
1t Is their higher duties which they so
often fail 10 appreciate and for which
they are commonly too lily prepared.
ITO warn" to keep bright the moral
armor of husband. son, father or BROTH
er, is work worthy of the noblest
woman. 1t is work the influence of
which is wide and ever increasing, and
which is seen in its fullness when some
great social reform is accomplished.
And this grand work Is the special du-
ty and privilege of women whose in
terests are confined chiefly to their own
homes. Workingwomen, so called,
like other bread-winners, are compelled
to think much about sordid things and
are themselves constantly exposed to
multifarious and subtle temptations.
The fact that frequent contact with
evil tends TO blunt human sensibilities
makes strong counteracting influence
a necessity. This can only be provided
in the pure and noble atmosphere of a
true home. So trite statement would
hardly bear repeating. were there not
so many family circles in which the
moral influence is by no means the
strongest Few women doubt their ca
pacity for home-making and home
keeping. They learn how TO sew and
to cook. They prepare themselves
carefully for teaching and other occu-
pations, and they seek to become ac-
complished. cultured and refined, that
they may shine in society. But God
and nature seem to be expected to pre-
pare woman, without her knowledge
or interference. for the most important
duties of home life. The truth is, this
field of labor, more than all others. re-
quires skillfully trained laborers. TO
really succeed here women must know
how to observe, to consider, and how
to act They must not only have their
own moral sense thoroughly aroused,
but must keep it in constant cultiva-
ton. And If they are in the highest
sense progressive, if they seek the i'm
measurable assistance of intellectual
culture and refinement, they may lead
the van of reform movements without
stepping from the modest retirements
of their homes. 1t is their separation,
in sense from the world that gives to
domestic women peculiarly favorable
opportunity for moral culture. They
alone, rs personally disinterestsd OBJ
servers, are able to weigh the worlds
many temptations and note the terrible
result of its small and great immorali-
ties. They alone, comparatively free
from the binding influence OF the gilt
ter and false colors OF evil. can, If
properly enlightened, look upon sin
with the horror it merits.
Such women never connive at, or
condone, wrong. though the guilty per-
son be their dearest friend. For loves
own sake they are unsparing in their
condemnation of all immoral doings,
and shrink almost with terror from the
blood-guiltiness found in the pseudo
charity which makes too light of sin
because of morbidly sentimental
feeling for the sinner. Moreover, it is
morally enlightened women who the
most readily and anxiously seek to lift
up the fallen, and whose sympathy and
mercy are the most unselfishly offered.
Strong moral support is an absolute
necessary for the success of any good
cause. Every man with an earnest
purpose can look almost with certainty
for the attainment of his object If he
has some one to hold up his hands. So
fully is this realized that no one is
surprised TO hear how this or that great
reformer received his strongest inspi-
ration from a good wife or mother, of
whom the world knows nothing fur
ther.
Indeed, there seems to be no reason
able doubt that the greater part of the
purifying influences cxerted upon the
world springs from comparatively OBJ
scure wives. mothers and sisters who
have learned the noble duty of their
positions. And their vocation cannot
be too highly exalted; it demands the
exercise of heart and brain, it asks for
the highest qualities w man can pos
sess, but success in it means the great
est reward obtainab le-a pure home, a
world made better. power and influence
queen might envy. and eternal hap
Diness assured -THg (u-relf