Huntsville gazette., 1889-08-17
TRUE WOMANLiNESS.


TRUE WOMANLiNESS
Qualities Which Constitute Noble Woman
hood-The Social and Intellectual Status
of the Gentler 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-fashionedn woman did
not read a paper at the meeting on
'sWomen as Women" A male writer
j j 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 a 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 mans
in any sphere save the domestic.
To 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
womans sphere and her increased ia
cilities of obtaining an honest hveli-
hood; neither will l 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.
If among the numberless vocations that
have been opened to woman there is
one that has a tendency to make her
less o woman, the privilege she has of
entering that vocation should be imme-
diately disallowed. No woman can af-
ford to lose the charms of a 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-
lating, 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
quality of mind or habit of life that is
distinctively masculine can be toler-
ated in woman by the opposite sex.
Opposites attract, and all women who
are desirous of pleasing men and of in
fuencing their actions will cultivate
the graces of pleasing femininity.
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, lis an in
dex to character" A woman's dress
in particular indicates the degree Of
her modesty, her refinement, and were
1t not for what has been said concern
ing the dress of intellectual women, |
would add, her intelligence. Aside
from this, ! have observed that in pro-
portion TO the number OF genuinely
feminine traits that woman possesses
is her love of neatuess and cleanliness
in dress increased. 1t does not argue
in favor of a frivolous or shallow mind
for woman to be neatly and stylishly
dressed. The intellectual and moral
status of the woman who dons a tasteful
apparel is several degrees higher than
that Of the gaudily dressed woman. and
/ am bound to add that there must be
something sadly wrong about the mind
or nature of the woman who persistent
~ ignores the most becoming fashions
for the sake Of showing an Independent
spirit, or because she has no desire to
| be considered attractive. Every wo-
man should exercise daily care in the
matter Of dress not only because her
self-respect is augmented thereby. but
! because men, from the most polished