Madison times. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1884-1???, 1885-08-29
To AMERICAN WOMEN.
A Few Happy Remarks Compliment
tary to Them.


Academy was given by Senator Thom-
as W. Palmer. The following extract
from the address happily describes the
noblest characteristics of woman:
The ages which have Immediately
preceded the last hundred Years were
ages of faith, in which the pendulum
swung beyond the reach or ken Of
reason. As result when the pcndu-
lum swung back TO the side OF reason,
impelled as it has been by the added
force of discoveries in science and the
revolt of the human mind from its
long bondage. it has swung clear be-
yond the confines of faith. Now,
whereas faith not regulated by reason
may be Il dangerous guide, reason un
inspired by faith has no vital power to
advance the destinlcs of mankind or
add grain to human happiness.
This age is not so much an age of
unbelief as it is an age of unsettled
bcl;efs, not only IN religion, but in all
things. Science and a spirit of in
quiry has unsettled nearly every pre-
conceived theory from the origin of
earthquakes down TO the method of
making Jersey butter. But religion
is not primarily thing of the reason.
II is an aspiration, reaching out for
something higher where reason may
not lead, but where she can follow and
mark the line between religion and
superstition.
Women are the guardians CT the
faith. To her faith is something more
than dogma. Be careful how you
permit it to be undermined by spe-
cious reasoning or ins.dious and covert
attacks. They say hope is the anchor
of the soul, but without faith the
cable is gone that ties you to hope.
TO the healthful mind doubts will pre-
sent themselves about dogmas and
forms, hut the eternal truths, the
over ruling power, the immortal des-
tiny of man, his responsibility and the
assurance that at last all things must
be made right, all inequalities recti-
fled, these are living truths which every
sDul must recognize the necessity Of,
and therefore their existence, for if /
understand the basic principle of one
| line of scientific research it is this
that where a need IS felt, that need
will bc supplied.
As in the olden time the sacred fire
| was committed to the care of the veS-
tails, so is the flame of pure and re-
| generate religion committed to the
care OF the women of to-day. The
aspirations and ideas of the race are
nurturcd and guarded by her. Through
her influence churches are reared and
the sound of praise is heard in the
land. At her knee the lessons are i'm
parted which, though silent in then
| operation, inspire men to heroic effort
or restrain them from guilt and impe
women to lives of self-Sacrifice and
bring back the erring.
The last thing a man ever forgets Is
the prayer he has lisped at his moth
er's side.
The future is hers, for she, more
ihon any other, shapes the growth o
the men of the future, and her teach
incs can never be unfruitful, Tor they
ere incorporated with the tissues o
the youth, who will hereafter largely
control the dcstin:cs of mankind.
In the Ulizzi Gallery in FlOrenc'
stands the statue of a woman. Ii i
an antique. 1t was chiseled in Athen!
over 9, 900 years ago. All that is beau
tiful in form and symmetrical in pro
portion is found IN this statue. Th'
shape of the LIMBS, the pose of th'
trunk and the contour of the heat
have been the admiration of the artisti
world for the last 200 years. This i
the celebrated Venus de Medicis
After all il impresses you with NJ
other idea than that here is the statu
of beautiful woman. There are m
suggestions of soul, nothing bu
sense. IL tells no story. 1t marks n
epoch. 1t iWmortalizes no sentimen
save that of passion. which would de
grade rather.than exalt.
In one of The corridors of The Lou
vre at Paris stands another statue. |
Is also of Greek origin. No one know
the name of the artist. 1t is OF heroi
} size, but that does not add to its dig
J nitv. The arms are gone, but no pro
, fame hand has ever daIed attempt thei
, restoration. The boly, full of dignity
, strength and repose, would impres
YOU by its quiet self-relance. Ih
features are not beautiful, by som
they would not be called classic, bu
one would say impulsively that thi
Q was chiseled in the likeness OF som
, woman rapt IN and inspired by som
lofty purpose, or that it was intende
as an impersOnat:on of those virtue
which artists in every age have dt
t lighted 10 represent through the pei
sonality of woman. You feel that thi
statue represents something owe
, which death has no power, and whlc
l time cannot change. 1t looks tl
, pure maiden, the wise matron, tn
e protector, the adviser, the cousolel
the inspirer, the sustainer. 1t repr
r sents faith, hope, endurance. resist
: ance; soul self-poised and equal
all things. ~,
e Some think her to have been IL
J.. tutelar deity of Melos, as Pail;
e Athene was of Athens. Whether 81
t inspired that patriotic people to tn
!. heroic deeds by which they won FAM
u or whether those deeds inspired tn
!, heart and brain from which she ws
i evolved, and gave the hand whic
g chiseled her its cunning, it makes bt
Il little difference. Without histor
h without a name, the hand which mo'
d eled her unknown, the island OF he
d birth degraded BY centuries OF mi
{ rule, one can read in her serene Al
/ reposeful look all the qualities whiI
d dignity humanity.
v You never tire in looking at he
l. The process IS restful. Reft of b
e arms she none the less lifts Won u