The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-10-24

longer has to beg for the privilege OF earning q
living Every avenue Is thrown wide open, and
she has but to enter H. And yet she will not
see the tempting chances on the right aud the
strained gaze she watches for the Coming Man
And she will never give to the world her best
work until the man has come and proved dis
appointment or failure.
The congress was held in the Warren Memoir
al, the handsomest church in Louisville, and
was reasonably well attended, probably by a
thousand out Of the one hundred aud seventy
FIVE thousand people of this beautiful city
made prosperous through the manly Injuries Of
whisky and tobacco. No gathering of women
ton of the most gifted women in the United
States is esteemed of less Importance than the
assembling of a little handful of the knights of
Labor In some obscure railway station. That
there is reason for this, no one
can doubt; but what may be the
cause of this discrimination it is
not the province of this paper to discuss. One
can understand why men do not turn out to a
womens meeting. They are afraid of being
laughed at The few who do venture in have so
conscious and uncomfortable look one almost
wishes them at home and out of their misery.
But why women do not turn out to assist those
who are trying to improve the condition of their
sex Is one OF the many conundruIns about these
inexplicable creatures Perhaps many OF them
are like the old man who always took a nap in
preacher. They think that somehow these talented
and energetic women who are engineering these
progressive moments will bring everything
around all right The apathy which women
show is due to a selfish Indifference, but when
their own experience brings them face to face
with some of the hardships which life holds for
their sex they then see the necessity OF putting
a shoulder to the wheel; but the heaviest of the
burden will always fall upon those who are able
to look beyond the narrow horizon which bounds
thoiw ind.r As1ol 10 I'D thn
needs Of the whole race of womankind.
The personnel Of the congress- in the main,
was very fine. Most OF the faces were Of high
type lacking, perhaps. in classic outline and del
cacy of coloring, but chiseled with those lines
which denote serious thought, earnestness OF
purpose, aud an experience which has given
sweetness of nature and strength Of character.
The costumes were, in some cases. stylish and
becoming in others, quite the contrary. One
would never think of criticising the garb Of the
masculine members of a convention, but dress
does not mean so much in a man as in
woman. SLOUGH of man is an object
of good -natured contempt, but slovenly woman
might we'll make angels weep. It has often
been used as an argument against so-called
strongminded women that they neglected the
art OF dress, and yet women are always told that
they pay entirely too much attention to dress,
and should cultivate their minds. One is almost
tempted to think that men are inconsistent
The fact is that some women are born to be neat
and tasteful in dress and others just the reverse
Whether they read Emerson and advocate wo-
man suffrage, or whether they dote on Ouida
and consider marriage the chief aim in life, has
nothing to do with it. But the time is coming
when lovely woman shall be perfect in all things,
fashion plate in toilet model housekeeper, a
faultess wife, devoted mother, consistent
church member, prodigy ID learning leader
in philanthropy. seraph in disposition. emf
nently fitted. in short, to be the companion of
the average man; and to assist 10 bringing about
this beautifed condition of saffairs the next an
nnal meeting of the Womans' Congress will be
held, as usual, at some place to be hereafter de-
termined.
The fourteenth session closed with most ele-
CANT reception by Mr.. and Mrs. Douglas Shir-
ley, at Sherley Place, one of the loveliest Of
Kentucky's beautiful homes.
IDA A. HARPER.