The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1886-10-07
LET Us HAVE PEACE.

late. Probably no topic calls ont more
general public interest. We may ex-
pect good To come from the discussion
in various WAYS. But al discussion has
its dangers. Argument and debate are
useful rs IN occasional. tonic but most
unwholesomc for steady diet. Tie many
points Oh which al good men and wo-
men agree are moro cheerful matter for
daily thought and speech than the few
on nhieh lney differ. 1t is necessary
for Ill Of rs. men and women alike.
now md then. for GU. convictions. But
il Is not creditable to any Of us. men or
women either. to keep up perpetual
loading and firing for the fun Of it.
There are signs that the ''pistol habit
is finding its way into our conversation.
feel confident that my acquaintance
are not especially subject to it. But
am quite accustomed. when cite Rev.
or Dr.-as authority on any topic re-
lating TO the outlook for women, to have
scornful I'D. he's man. flung at
me for sufficient answer, as if the light
OF reason were forever withdrawn from
one-half the human race. have class
mates to whom | cannot quote "Ly-
cilas' without exposing myself TO the
brilliant repartee. Yes. but how did
Milton treat his wivcs?' cali to mind
prosperous young school teachers
charming girls. too, most Of them-tO
whom the economy and self denial Of
their married friends are interesting
chiefly Is they NAV be made to point Il
smar, moral or adorn a lively tale.
| am member Of Woman's Club.
large. well managed. and in most re-
spec,s delightful. The ''Woman's Rights
Question has been wisely excluded
from the very outset. as not likely &c
promote harmony. Nevertheless the tly
Of combatiyeness is in our pot of ONT
ment. Many of us have husbands and
brothers: fathers we have all had. But
l should not like to tell you. though !
do not think our case is an exceptional
one. how often we make reference to
the notorious failings of man. to his liza
biiity to bring muddy boots in over the
best carpet. his tendency to ask .'what
has become OF the dollar let YOU have
last week?" the accessibility OF his heart
through his stomach. above all, his in
capacity for disntcres,cd affection. The
world would be dreary place indeed,
II these things We're all true that we say
in our hippant speech. II we really be-
ieye them. we should have little heart
to speak OF them. Few Of us will admit
that these jcsts Of ours represent convic-
tons. Bui they must stand Tor some
thing. Is it fauit-iinding habit, o.
only i poor taste in jokes?
III there be any virtue, if there be
any praise. think on these things" talk
on these things. the advice is not
anilua.ed vet. One might almost say
that the need for it grows greater every
yea: There are more people talking
now than ever before, they have more
to talk about, it is more important that
their talk should be happy and helpful.
Social conversation is largely directed
by women. Snail they give it, prevail
ingly, a cynical. carping. pugnacious
tone. and that in matters relating to the
family and to home life?
There is virtue and there is praise to
be thought on. and with men as Well as
lyle letters. to be sure. though even as
to them who can know that he has
rightly distributed his cen>urc? But
have we lost in them our recollection 81
the Kingsley letters. and Of ''Waiel
babies. that lovely memorial Of a faith.
ers tenderness for his little son? We
had whole treatise OH broticrly kind
ness when Macaulay's letters came out,
with that rhyming gossip to his sisters
from the Parliament Hobbies, and those
later poems to the nephews and nieces.
You may only admire the author o.
..Horaius' but it is a feeling very like
affection that you have for the busy
man who found time to write nursery
verses like this:
1.-The bea,lle got a good big stick,
Bigger than uncte'S thumb.
o. what fright those boys were in
To see the beadle comet"
But we have no need to 60 to litera-
ture for examples. Are there not many
Of our number to whom fathers room
and mothers have been equally places
Of childish refuge?
We could mark off our domestic call
endar with the kindly deeds of men. if
we would but take account Of such.
SATURDAYS. we meet father who Is walk
ing mile ut the end Of hard days
work. 10 fetch home the bonnet his girl
has set her heart on wearing to church
tomorrow Sunday. we hear Of busy
man who b.ngs the office bottle Of red
ink out from town. and Eliminates the
covers Of the thirty recipe books his
daughter is making for her table at the
fair Monday. we see clothes tapping
on our neighbors' lines that were wrung
out and hung out BY husbands who must
Do at the factory before seven. Tues
iay. letter from Rome brings news OF
the burdened evangelist who breaches
IN Il foreign language seven nights a
week and then goes home to hel p watch
with his sick babies since the measles
come even To poetic Italy. Wednesday,.
tired mother for whom hard times and
dull work have made this an anxious
winter. tells us how her husband '.said
there wasn't another young woman in
town that could make 4 little money 90
SO far thursday. the fastidinus friend
who could never be prevailed on to pro
tect her feet with ANYTHING more clumsy
than rubDrrs. shows Us the stylish over
shoes her brother has persuaded her 10
wear. Friday. rummagng in our own
garrett. we pull out an old olive felt. the
lirst hat the little girl was ever trusted
TO buy alone. How well we remember
the child's complacency as she brought