The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1886-04-14
Southern Woman.

There is an impression in the north
that educated and cultivated southern
women are less able to take care of them.
selves when overtaken by misfortune
than northern women Of the same class
are. This impression is not well found.
ed, and those who have it know nothing
about southern women, and have not
had access to correct sources Of informa.
tion. There is another incorrect impr,s
sion entertained ut the north in respect
to southern women. II il that they do
not hold labor in rs much esteem rs
northern women do,and are not so ready,
therefore. to undertake to support them.
selves when thrown upon their own re-
sources.
It is doubtful II there is in any section
Of the country, in proportion to the mum.
br Of the class to which they belong.
80 many refined and cultivated women
are earning their own support or helping
TO earn il as there arc in the south. II is
true, probably. that when slavery was an
institution, and there was little poverty
among educated people. Southern wO-
men of the better class were not often
found engaged in work Of any kind that
was not purely matter Of choice. There
was no occasion for them to work.
When misfortune came, however, they
were not found wanting in any Of the
qualities which were necessary to meet
the requirements of their changed con.
,lition. They faced the situation plucki.
~ and hopefully and did willingly what
ever thcy could find to do. Everywhere
in ,hc south now. in town and country.
there are young women. educated and
cultivated, belonging to the best fami.
lies and moving in the best circles, who
are quietly earning their own support
and helping to support Others dependent
upon them. They make no parade OF
what they are doing, and those whose
lot is exceptionally hard seldom com
plain.
The south has made great progress in
the last twenty years. She is richer
now, doubtless. than ever before. Hel
wealth is perhaps not so apparent as i
was in slavery times. because it is much
more generally distributed. II the trutl
could he known it would appear, doubt
less, that the women Of the south by
their example, self.relance, READINGS:
and willingness to do with their owl
hands whatever became necessary for
them to do, and by the encouragement
they have given the men have done thei
full share towards creating the wealth
and making the comfortable homes that
are now to re found in the south, ant
they are still working, and have as Pre-
found an appreciation of the dignity o.
labor as there is to be found anywhere
in the world.
They are not wasting any time in re
GREETING the past or in envying thel
more prosperous sisters OF the north
Their misfortunes and their struggle
have not robbed them of their beauty
the sweetness OF their natures, or mad
them less courteous or charitable. "Gai
Hamilton" one of the most brilliant an,
gifted women of the north, in an articl
published in the April number of tn
Forum, says that southern women ar
prettier than northern women, and tina
acknowledgements the stranger with
theirgates." She also says that the "sout
ern woman on Columbia Heights, on tn
South Battery, in Forsythe Park,
pleasing to the eye" The witnesses ar
innumerable who will testify to the trut
Of what "Gail Hamilton says.
No, southern women are not helpe'
and dependent. that they are not wan'
ing in esteem for labor. In all that
best aud noblest in woman they have n
superiors. Savannah News.