The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-02-13

sharpening iron for me TO hear other men
think. go down to the city every Mon
day morning empty, and come back full. !"
Invited his wife last winter to attend
the monthly meeting OF certain literary
club. The very name OF "Sorosis" would
have alarmed her conservative spouse,
but this select gathering of refined women,
where reporters are tabOoed, was so mild
hammered that he graciously assented to
her proposed "outing," taking my per-
sonal bond that she should 'imhibe no
unwomanly notions while there"
The gentle pastoress carried off the
honors of her seminary at graduation, and
"kept up her reading" for two years there
after. Then she married and went to
feed two fiocks-the one Of lambs in the
home-fold, the other, her husbands
"promiscuous 'eharge--what Young Amer
lea would style "a job lot" of sheep of all
ages. She has, at the present date-ffteen
years after marriage-six children, and
has buried three. One servant is kept
in the parsonage to do what the mis-
tress cannot perform for want OF
two heads. four hands and seven
days, for forty-eight hours long, per week.
She visits nowhere except in "the congre-
CATION" of hill-town parish, is president
of the sewing society, leads the
women's prayer meeting, "has" the
infant class in sunday-school, and
takes tea out, once week, on an aver
age-always in the house of n member.
She is an unofficial, unaccredited, I'M
salaried general utility article; public
pump, with heart and nerves. the latter
worn fine and sore by years OF wear and
jar.
The courteous interchange of greetings
Al Il. j - -,
meetings OF 1.-The High Noon club" and
the gentle cordially of welcome ex-
tended 10 her by those to whom she
was introduced brought girlish
flush to the faded cheeks, a sparkle that
vas the light of Nher days to the eyes Of
the shy little lady; her well-saved black
silk was not shamed by the quiet costumes
of the habl,les. She took her part well
in the pleasant chat that went on over
the informal lunch, and looked five years
younger by the time the small tables were
removed, and those who had grouped
themselves about them set their chairs
back into rows facing the presiding Off
GERS table at the tap OF the gavel.
The essay was spicy, suggestive, stimu-
lating; the debate that succeeded it was
lively, pertinent, and sometimes brilliant,
and characterized, as always, by perfect
temper and breeding. Nobody ''made a
speech" at least a dozen women
talked naturally and easily of the matter
in hand. Ny guest thrilled and glowed
SO the minutes went on, as frost
touched rose opens to the May sunshine.
Her eager glance, passing from speaker to
speaker. was unwittingly inspiration to
the debaters-
II shall 60 in the strength of this meat
three times forty days and forty nights !"
she said at our parting. the dew of feeling
in her eyes, the delicate flush still on her
worn face. at helps one to live to know
that other women can think and say such
things"
On behalf of such starvelings as She
dumbly patient and meekly resolute to
stand in their lott plead for the main
tenance Of wOman's clubs. In behalf of the
great multitude of wives and mothers
who 10 not grow intellectually
from eighteen to eighty; who, when their
children are 70 be educated, are less fit TO
undertake the work than when they
were themselves at school; who are no
mates for their husbands in general
intelligence, vet whose voiceless cry is
IL feel like a seed in the cold earth,
Quiokeuing at heart and longing for the air."
OF the cheer and help these meetings
with kindred spirits afford to professional
brain-workers: OF the friendships
cemented there; of the hopes and
designs for the good Of our sex
and lind born and nourished by them,
say little, for lack of space, not from scar
city Of material. They are landmarks in
the progress Of our best civilization, as
well IS resting-places for the climber.
MARION HARLAND.