The Arkansaw traveler., 1886-02-06
DOMESTlCLTY OF LITERARY
 WOMEN.

rSdtC WOOOSi iu OOSNOA 0lOOC.I
 Literary women are seldom domes. .ic," asserted gentleman in 8 small gathering of both sexes not long since i; and the series of exclama ations which fol. lowed his remarks plainly indicated that his hearers could not agree with him.
 This old-time preju ice and oft-re- peated assertion has, SO far as we can learn, existed without even the semblance of truth for foundation.
 We may differ widely as to our defini- ton of literary women and literary work and we may unhesitatingly admit that much of the printed matter designated as literary is the product of the "preteE- tious illiteracy" so ably treated in these columns a short time ago
 Let us, however, take the accepted def milton or understanding of the word and recognize with the general public all been published in the shape of books, poems, essays, stories, editorials, scien. tihc research, contributions to periodi- calls, or in any of the many forms wherein thought huds expression. Genuine work, however modest, IS too sacred and la bori- ous to be ignored.
 From the time of Queen Deborah, who ruled wisely and well, down to our year of the Lord many excellent men of all ranks, have recognized womans mental ability scholars have sought the stimu Jus of her companionship and have cor dially welcomed her to their guild. When we think of Hypatia the wise whose chariot was followed by admirlng crowds and whose tragic death and ui just persecution caused US to weep bitterly in childhood, we con sratulate ourselves that all modern Hypatias, if any such exist, Can work and teach, aye, even preach, without fear, save from the sneertng com ment of some Cyril who if he does not tremble on his throne amuses himself by quoting old proverbs born of some au cient p,tjudlce. h ns county ID the world do we find men so generous and courteous to women as in America; an especially is this true of the literary men Dr. Holmes, Longfellow. E nerson, Whi'- tier, E E Hale, James T Fields, T. B Aldrich and many others have established reputation for their exceeding kindness to all whose work has exhi oited even modicum of merit. In no profession is there so little jealousy and nowhere can you 6nd the right hand of fellowship more irequeotly extended.
 It is matter of general rejoicing when a good thing" appears, let it's source be what it may and the only far is lest the successful author may hud praise over stimulating. This, however. IS not often the case all success is the result of hard work it remains for the worker to decide whether it is wise "to sit down content with little success" as Mere dith puts it, or to push on and do more and better while the cheering "bravo still fingers on the air. The reading world will never quite understand the privations of the small writing world Work means self denial, study and, in some ca ses, neglect of social duties in most, hearty giving out of enes best life, best thought and inspiration. Hun dreds of women are doing this in Amer ica, many of them against heavy odds and discouragements, bot, we believe all working bravely and cheertully.
 # the work re.e not so much grander than the worker, the constant repetition of old prejudices, by a class of men who should know better, might easily dis- he.ren, but work brings it's e mpensa- uou ID many ways anu one tniSnt say 10 such men, in the language of one of their own sex written more than a hundred years ago, Remember when the ,dg- ment's weak, the prejudice is strong ; one might say so, but one never does i; for sharpness of speech and bitterness are not req aisi;s ;s gocc vcrs cr polite soci- ety. This D .rticular and pet prejudice of certain men concerning literary women is so manifestly urjust that, by the law of eternal fitness, a woman should expose its fAllacy, but, in order 70 do this, more time and SD lce would be required than is usually accorded to the average edito- rial.
 Let us take, however, a few familiar names. Can we forget the gifted Char iotte Bronte's story of pairing potatoes and the homely duties of her daily life Do we see only the resalts of Mary Som erville's scientific research, and not the background of domestic cares ~hich she performed with skill and alacrity in order to make time for her s'udies7 Was her tender devotion as mother dim uished by her profound knowiedge? Go the contrary, every faculty was alert, every dntv | 9rander. holier thing. and itx exzct