The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1888-02-18

"'~j~>' Va "V'hoh uutY ~ ccr'
tainly time-worn. Yet too few who
have thought 1t necessary to point out
10 woman her duty. have taken into
consideration the fact that duty is pro-
gressive virtue. and that therefore the
duty OF the woman OF one genera on
may not be the duty OF the woman OF
the succeeding generation. seldom Is
u understood that ideas on this subject
should change with changing cond,-
lions II they ARE 10 meet the wants OF
new and progressive age. Nine. de
otael. who was far ahead of her time
IN so many Of her ideas. certainly shows
II Ia her ideas regarding duty. She
says, duty. the noblest destination of
man. may be d stortcd. like MI other
ideas. into an offensive weapon by
which narrow minds silence their SUI
perors rs their foes. One would think
II believing them. that duty enjolned
the sacrifice Of all qua tiles that confer
distinction. Aud are not great
thoughts and generous feelings debts
due to the world from all who arc ca
pablc OF paying them? Olght not
every woman. like every man. TO fol.
low the bent OF her own talents? Must
we initiate tho instincts OF tho bees.
whose every succeeding swarm copies
the last without Improvement or va
rietyP" Now IL cannot be said that
women as class have not been devo-
tees OF duty. Thcy have certainly
practiced acknowledgements but unfor.
tunately not always TO its highest
ends; aud by far too often 1t has been
simply misapplication Of energy.
SO in this age of re Id Development
IT seems especially necessary that wo-
men should be awake to the fact that
they not only have domestic duties
but duties ms women and citizens. or rs
Julia Ward Howe puts Il. "Womon arc
us much bound to cultivate pu bile
spirit, as they are to foster domestic
duties.''
Besides. with the advance in educa-
tional opportunities for women. has
come also an advance IN women's posi-
ton as workers. so that one OF the first
duties OF the woman OF to-day Is TO
study the problem of woman's work.
Since tic Time has now passed when
the uDprofessional or unskilled woman
can expect To earn much more than
starvation wages, and rs unforeseen
circumstances are constantly the means
OF sending the unpreparcd women 70
lives OF starvation. misery. or crime. IL
would seem that the only way TO solve
the problem of woman's work Is To adj
vocale the fitting OF girls. by tlado or
profession. TO earn their own livelihood.
The mothers first duty then Is TO liL her
an independent woman. VIII le upon
all women of means and leisure de-
volv cs the work Of establishing indus
trial and training schools for the bene-
fit of women less fortunate than them
selves. The poor woman can not stop
TO consider the questions; her daughter
must work; so with the women who
employ them rests the gra We RESPONSE
bility Of elevating their con dition by
making them skilled and intelligent
workers. True. there are Wis ionary.
sentimental people who still believe
that women sh Guild be deepen den upon
men. yet the solemn fact that there are
In the United States nearly 3 100000
women who must work or SC arve re-
mains TO stare them in the face. But
there is, we believe. gradually dawing
upon the world Reorganization of the
fact that nothing short of independence
can develop characte r la woman or In
man. while with the advance OF knowl-
edge more enlightened public senti-
ment will in mo recognize that IL Is
woman's duty to make the M ost of her
self In every relation OF private H. and
public interest. II eHa w. Usher. ia
Weekly Wisconsin.
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