The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-09-09
THE MORNING NEWS: SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 1885,

well ordered family
Mrs. Mary FL, Ford who is recognized
in the west as an authority on literary mat
tiers, writes thus on the subject: THE
| Presidents wife, in my own opinion, holds
IN her hands the possibility of all sorts OF
reforms. As the first lady in the land she
sets the fashions SO that whatever she does
or says other American women will do or
say, to certain extent. Therefore, if she
would show herself interested in the pro-
gressive advancement OF her own sex, it
would do more than anything know of to
make fashionable woman more thoughtful
and serious. By countenancing the sut-
frage movement she could make it more
ia Shionable and that is all it needs, at pres
ent, to enable it to grow faster"
Mrs. q. II. Cushing, whom every one
knows in tbs west connected with the
most successful philanthropic movements,
writes thus from her home at Leavenworth,
Kansas: Il can hardly conceive of any
social reform which woman of ability
holding the position OF wife to the Chief
Magistrate of this republic could not great
ly advance if she were 50 disposed. 1t is
the fashion to follow closely the first
lady of the land III the matter of dress
and social observances, even when that lady
! leans toward frivohty and fOoliShneSs; but
position, with clear, intelligent knowledge
! OF the right, with an answering purpose
TO follow where conscience dictates, is al
ways mighty power in any community or
| country.
Mrs. Frances Cleveland's power to Gre
ate aunlversal enthusiasm goes TO prove that
she would have a large following in what
ever reform she might advocate. The in
fiuence Of tue Queen Of Engla in reference
| to moral purity has been great, while it has
! to II certain exGe 1t ben nullified by the ex-
ample of portion of her family stand
ing near the throne. SO, too, her daughter,
. AIaf hoe cg,s T.Nr,e
! in the elevation Of the standard of true wom-
| auhood among q people whose men by in
| stinct and Inheritance are disposed to tYran-
| nlze over womeu--tne women themselves,
in the meantime taking this treatment as a
matter of course or in sulien silence"
Mrs. Anna Kohl Wright, woman of in
! dependent fortune, whose life has been de-
voted 20 phi anthropy said she would first
| OF all let all the Chinese come to this country
! that wished to. That she would lead i'll all
| the charitable work about her. That she
| would build Magdalen homes and establish
| Washington refuge for bootOlacks and news
! boys. There is one thing" continued Mrs.
| Wright, you may put me down for, and
! that is, a corrector Of morals If were the
! resdents wife | would refuse to receive a
man in the white house whose moral
! character was not above all question pure.
! | lay more stress on this social reform than
any other"
Mrs. NJ A. Bingham, of Kansas City,
| to whose energy the woman's exchange
| owes it present existence, says: 81 am
| SUI 9 L can conceive of no more trying posi-
ton than that of the Presidents wife. To
be consistent, prudent anu thoughtful I'M
| der the pressure of flattery is TO be truly
hel ole. The first duty of such a woman is
! to er husband. TO MIN she should be a
| loving, faithful wife, at the same time ris-
| ing with him as he moves in his social and
| 1inn n, k..I ~so Of che sin h.
pow er behind the throne If she believes
PR hibition to be the great need of the day,
| let her champion its cause. If for free
| TIL de or high tariff let her 50 declare; If for
the enfranchisement of women let her say
so publicly. Doubtless her opinions given
| in firm but unObtrusive manner would go
far toward deciding many of her sex VINO
are weak and wavering. am cert lin if |
/ were the Presidents wife | should feel it
my duty to stretch out my hands to the
down Todden, o verworked, undergrad of my
sex, and insist that they be given equal
rights with men. Indeed, | hold, that
while she may overturn traditional custom
such as refusing to serve wine at state din
ners in the white house, she may have Ger
tain views aud declare them without be-
coming a oud-mouthed politician The
charm about President Cleveland is his out
spoken candor; his wife has certainly the
same right"
Mrs. Annie l.. Diggs, of Lawrence, Kan
sas, was the first woman in the state to
cast her vote under the new municipal or
dering. She writes, when put the question:
Permit me first to say that we must always
allow for the limitations of the environ of the
Presidents wife. Tact and common sense
should stand guard over all reformatory
zeal and draw the line before offensive push,
egotistical assumption or dlctatorial pre-
sumption. Mrs Hayes showed what may
ha hyy vii in cd
vancement of temperance. | should have
the wife of the first magistrate join the
white ribbon army of the w. e. L. u,
and continually wear the tiny, unobtruslve
badge She should demand an equal stand
ard for morality without distinction Of sex.
Persons of Inclean life, no matter what their
social standing, should not be received by
the mistress of tho white house. | would
have her discountenance the silly twadde
of social prestige, advancing rather the
American idea of individual worth and
nobility of character. BY precept and ex-
ample the society woman should be shamed
into reputable dressing. No partially nude
woman should be countenanced at the pub
lie white house receptions.
Miss Nellie G. TEACHER, daughter of Judge
S. o. Thacher, of Lawrence, Kansas, VINO
was recently United States commissioner tc
South America, writes from the Athens of the
west: My knowledge of Washington So
= clety IS too slight Tor me 10 know IN what
way the Presidents wife might be able tC
further any needed reforms Of a social ma
ture. In matters political, l fancy, the ma
ton at large and she, herself, certainly in par
ticular. will be quite as well off, if she ex-
erts her Influence through her husband aud
not as a separate, individual force But
the greatest opportunity which her position
affords her is the wider, m re conspicuous
field in which to show beauty and grace OF
| raj " w
in herself and of bringing others under the
sway of these ennobling Influences. This is
of course only an expression of one of the
old, Old Stories yet | doubt whether its
practical fulhllment will ever prove mono
tonous to either man or woman"
Mrs Agnes Lester Thompson said, when
asked this interesting question: II think
the best thing the Presidents wife can dc
is to avoid being conspicuous in anyway 1t
must be an awful trial to Mrs. Cleveland
to have her picture on cigarette advertise
ments and quack medicine cures"