The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1889-08-14
TRUE WOMANLlNESS.


hood-The Social and Intellectual Status
of the Center sex-The Responsibilities
OF Daughter, Wife and Mother.
After the first meeting of the Wo-
mems National Convention the editor
OF one of our prominent dailies, asked
why some 'old-fashioned" woman did
not read a paper at the meeting on
"'Women as Women" A male writer
IL the Epoch attributed the ''rudeness
OF women" to their ''growing inde-
pendence." A noted journalist writes
of wOmen's inaptitude for the duties of a
public office; while correspondent Of
an educational journal says that ''at
least one-half OF all the teachers in our
public schools should be men," Such
queries and opinions as these, says
'.Aunt Ancient" in Rural New Yorker,
coming from men of presumably broad
views, furnishes another proof Of man
inability to regard women as at home
in any sphere save the domestic.
: 10 be sure. there are implanted in
every woman's heart love of home
and a desire for family ties, but as she
advances in intelligence there will be
less likelihood of her exchanging the
means OF an ample subsistence for
home and husband unless the husband
be a congenial spirit and one that
is worthy of a good home. 1t is
not my purpose to discuss, in de-
tail, the advantages to mankind in gen.
eral arising from an enlargement of
woman's sphere and her increased fa-
ciities OF obtaining an honest liveli-
hood; neither will dispute the opinion
OF men that woman is most loveable
when she retains every vestige of true
womanliness and figures in the capacity
of sister, daughter, wife or mother
Al among the numberless vocations that
have been opened to woman there is
one that has tendency to make her
less woman, the privilege she has OF
entering that vocation should be imme-
diately disallowed. No woman can af-
ford to lose the charms of gentle wo-
manhood, and the more she is brought
into contact with men. the greater is
her need OF those qualities which are
essentially feminine. While woman
has gained the right to stand upon a
social and intellectual level with man,
every woman. no matter what her call
ing may be, has duties to perform and
responsibilities resting upon her that
belong to her sex alone Her influence
SHOULD always be informing and stimu-
1aling, her efforts persevering and
quiet If there be any that take ex-
ception to the last requirement, let
them remember that in no place is a
female blusterer ever sanctioned. No
quality OF mind or habit of life that is
dstinctively masculine can be toler-
ated in woman by the opposite sex.
Opposites attract, and all women who
are DESTROYS Of pleasing men and of in
fiuencing their actions will cultivate
the graces of u pleasing fcmininity.
To add to the qualities which consti-
tute woman's innate womanliness, her
dress. her manners and her education
are deserving of special attention.
''Dress." some one has said, "is an in
dex to character" A woman's dress
in particular indicates the degree oil
her modesty, her refinement, and were
II not 70. what has been said concern
fpn tho drass nf intel leptnal woman
wou d add. her intelligence. Aside
from this, | have observed that in pro
portion 10 the number OF genuinely
feminine traits that woman poSsesse:
is her love of neatuess and cleanliness.
in dress increased. 1t does not argue
in favor OF a frivolous or shallow min(
for u woman to be neatly and stylishly
dressed. The intellectual and mora
status of the woman who dons tasteful
apparel is several degrees higher thar
shat of the gaudily dressed woman, ant
/ I'm bound to add that there must b.
something sadly wrong about the min,
or nature of the woman who persistent
II ignores the most becoming fashion
&c the sake of showing an Independent
NJ rit or because she has no desire t
be considered attractive. Every VIC
man should exercise daily care in tn
matter of dress. not only because he
sel;-respect is augmented thereby. bu
because men, from the most polishe