The national leader., 1889-03-02
woman's Offices and Influences.
Truly this is busy age. an age of no
tiOnS and novelties of invention and

science and art. It may be with some
difficulty that we estimate the rapid
progress of ideas on all subjects. Dis
tance scarcely lends enchantment TO us
EOw, for the four quarters of the globe
! seem to be in sight of one another almost
within the twinkling of an eve. thoughts
are flashed from shore to shore. Litera-
ture is scattered broadcast over the land.
| Some of it is of an enlightening in
1uence, leading men to nober thoughts
and higher aspirations, while much of
| it has the opposite effect. We have
our being amid the busy scenes of
J new and free world. 1he nature of the
! literature published in this progressive
age, depends much upon who the author
is, what his aspirations are, and what has
been his home culture. Whether this
literature shall be of a demOraliZing ma
ture or of polished and noble thought,
| fit not only for the pillars of this repub-
4 lie, but for its advancement and adorn-
ment also, will depend mnch upon the
present generation and more on the
,COnlen OF this generation.
Women in this age. the eve of the
nineteenth century, are looked upon in
enlightened countries with vastly more
esteem and high appreciation than ever
before. They are considered mans
equal, but not his superior, nor is she
to take the place Of man and abandon
her own sphere in life.
The Greeks and Ionians kept their
women in Seclusion in the wOman'S
quarter of the house. They were sell
dom seen except at the marriage of a
daughter or son, when it WAS her high
est ambition to carry the accustomed
torch. They knew very little OF the
outside world. But in Rome it was
different; of all the nations of the old
world, there Was none in which women
were held so much in honor as at Rome.
1t is true that, in the eye of the law.
the wife in the old days passed into the
pOwer-the hand (Manus)-of her huS-
band. His rights over her were un-
bounded, except by religion and The
feelings of the people at large. But
these required that she should be treat
ed with respect and reverence. The
married women were the most hOnOred
mistresseS of the household. They did
no menial work, but taught their daugh-
terS how to spin and weave. They
often took warm interest in the affairs
of the country and their opinion and
advice was asked with respect by their
husbands. 1t was noticed at Rome as
it often has been in modern countries
that the highest standard of pure and
uncorrupted language and pronuncia-
tion was to be found in the daily con-
verSation of educated ladies. Men do
rot deserve all the praise i'll this partlc-
ular.
The Chinese mostly keep their wives
in the strictest seclusion, do not permit
them to be seen by men unveiled, and
they are usually not enlightened.
The Indian always looked upon wo-
man as his slave. All work tit only for
women. She prepared his repast, and
ate the poorest part of it. In conSe-
quence, the coldest part Of the Wigwam
was her seat.
Tie American female is looked upon
as being who is pure, noble. gentle,
and kind. Where man is bOld-wOman
is beautiful. Where man has power
woman has taste. A woman has no
natural gift more beWitching than a
sweet laugh. 1t is like the sound Of
flutes upon the water. Yet no trait of
character is more valuable III female
than the possession of a sweet temper.
Home can never be made happy with
out it. Then again,-a woman OF true
intelligence is blessing at home. in
her circle of friends, and in society.
The influence of such a woman on So
ciety is of the most salutary kind.
Some one has sain,-"We admire the
women because of their beauty, respect
them because of the virtue, adore them
because of their intelligence, and love
them because eCe cannot help It,"
This then is the Americans idea of
enlightened women. She WeildS vast
influence in all enlightened countries,
and we may with safety say that much,
in France and England. and especially
in America.
Woman is generally appreciated for
her Kindness. kindness comes over
the spirit like the music Of Dayid'S harp.
over the passion of Saui.' 1t softens
and subdues. 1t manfests Itself in a
thousand ways but all beautiful. sit
IS crown of glory on the head of old
age, jewel on the breast of childhood. -
Any true woman desires and strives
|
we fear too many are careless and in
diffent about this, and appear harsh
and unkind.
A Frencnman once said, ,-''If a word
or two will render man happy, he
must be a wretch indeed who will not
give it; for it is like lighting an
other mans lamp with your own, which
loses none of it's brilliancy by what the
other gains"
Kindness in mankind makes sunshine
wherever it goes. The family circle,
the social circle, the entire community,
all, / say, are grateful for kindness.
Home enjoyments, home affections.
home courtesies, cannot be too Cal e.
fully cultivated. They are the sunshine
of the heart. woman stores kindness
away in her heart like rose-leaves in a
drawer to sweeten every object around
them.
Cheerfulness Is another attribute of
woman's character tending to the hap
pineSs of home. Let 1t be commended
to her cultivation. Some are, prone to
look ever Oh the dark side Of lie. They
not only becloud their own spirit, but
cast shadow over the smiling pre-
cincts of home.
''Despondency is death. cheerfulness