Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-08-05
Commonplace Women.

From the Albany Journal.
While Newport is filed with enthusiasm over
the testimonial to be given Mrs. Julia Ward
Howe, and while monuments are being raised
to the memory Of and tributes are being paid
to the worlds famous women, perhaps q word
of the commonplace women-women whose
names have never appeared in print, or whose
voices have never been heard outside the pre-
cinct OF their own fresides-would not be amiss;
or OF women who are standing alone in the
world bravely fighting the battles of life, and
whose memory will live only in the few hearts
that have been Frightened by kind word or
deed.
In a crowded street car in this city the other
night entered an old Irish woman with q ging-
ham sunbonnet on her head, carrying a huge
basket. She was weary with walking q long
distance, but no place was offered her, though
the car was filled with men, so called. She had
stood but Q moment when q pale-faced little
woman, who looked as if she had come from
Office or store, arose and said: ''Take my seat, -
at the same time gently pushing the sunbonnet,
basket, and all into the place vacated. She
was not left standing long. There were soon
plenty OF seats for her. The majesty of the
act had touched the hearts Of those men.
Oh. that uncomfortable Christian fire! How
pure the gold OF its result! 1t needs no prac-
ticed eloquence, no social greatness for its
success; only the warm human heart. And
out OF it came gentleness such as no power,
no wealth, no culture, may ever hope to win.
No words can outline the beauty of that plain
little woman, the sad, sweet patience of the
gray eyes or the spirit Of overfowing goodness
which brought cheer and comfort to the old
soul and renewed respect for womankind to
those men.
There are Thousands Of women who have
never read one Of Mrs. Howe's productions
women who know nothing of literature OF
science; and these women are called common.
place. Their lives are commonplace and made
up OF commonplace things. Standing over Q
What finer poetry than q mothers kiss on 9
little flushed face, swollen with pain or dis.
colored by disease, that no one else would kissi
What sweeter music than the voice of com
monplace woman cheering q Borrowing heart;
Taxing extra pains to get something nice ant
fresh for supper for hungry husband il not
worth . testimonial, oftentimes, not even from
the husband himself. The heroic souls tha
are making sacrifices and going without de
sired clothes and many Of the comforts of Life
70 give their children advantages that had beer
song or story.
During the war period, when the nation trem
bled at the story Of Uncle Toms Cabin, and ths
strains Of Mrs. Howe's Battle Hyunnn ros.
clear q silver bsll above tyranny and oppres
sion. the commonplace women were knitting
socks and writing letters that began with sslfj
own dear boy" And the grandest battle hymi
that was ever sung In this land was the prayer,
| that went up from the hearts of these common
place women to be registered In Heaven. Il 1
not written that some day they shall recsiv,
hands shall trsnscribs their Hives, ana there a
the pages Of their mortal history be vrittsr
The praise and the pride Of name twined witt
eternal tributes, whom the books Ere opon 3
the feet OF eommouplace women.