Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-12-21
A MARVEL TO MRS. kendall
THE VERSATILITY OF AMERICAN
WOMEN A SURPRISE TO HER.

Normal Colleges Eighteen Hundred
Girls Impressed Her Very Stronghold
Ideas the Subject of Mstrimony-The
Gallant Act of Prince Leopold.
Mrs. Kendall sat at little tete-a-tete table
in her rose perfumed parlor contemplating a
rack of dry toast and steaming service OF
English breakfast tea. rosebud blushed in
beauty at her throat, and the thread-ike ring
of gold on her wedding finger was her only
jewel. 1t was a bare, prim, lofty hotel par
lor, with never picture a cushion or ''the
aesthetic trace of individuality" about it, but
there was fire on the hearth and woman
in front of it, with PARKWAY, wistful blue
eyes, dreaming among the glowing Goals, and
together they made the room a sweet, restful
soothing place-a home.
And YOU come from a newspaper II
surprises me-the versatility of the American
woman have seen many wonderful things
since came to New York, but nothing that
interests me so much as the woman question,
which the American girl is solving for the
world.
Il don't think the American people realiza
the worth, the ability, the power or the pos
sibilities OF their sisters and daughters. Ii i,
to me, a conservative English woman,
marvel
AT THE COLLEGE.
Yes, went TO visit the Normal college
Thursday. l went to crafty little friend
the daughter of President Hunter, and thai
Is how became so interested in the question
There were 800 young women in the audi
ence assembled for me-for me, think of it,
| never had seen so much Of my sex at one
time, and | cannot tell how strongly | was
impressed. Such throng of youth, beauty
vigor and enthusiasm | didn't know what
TO say or how TO conduct myself-rather
suppress myself-and before | realized my
position, Mr.. Hunter had presented me to the
college, and in the most gracious way pre-
pared the expectant pupils for an address.
There was nothing for me to do but rise
and had never made speech in my life
talk to the girls And that's what L did. /
can't tell You what | said. / only know how
| felt and also know that made my listen
ers feel the honesty and sincerity of my ad-
miration for them
"Oh, | noticed everything-the precision,
the order, the almost military alacrity Of the
scholars The action of the school was like
the movement in IA clock. In the march
there was the light step, the easy grace the
proud carriage and that air OF certainty, Sc
curity and conscious satisfaction that have
never seen outside of the military. And then
the charm of personality! Youth in itself
Is beauty, but there was more than beauty
There was intelligence intellect and a tan
gibihty of culture and refinement that j
never expected TO find outside of an exclu-
sive society
AT a word 500 seats tapped and 800
girls dropped into them. Ii was instantane-
Gus. One, twol And it was over l was
dumfounded and with just that instantaneity
Of action every part of the programme was
executed.
Mr.. Hunter asked the girls if they wished
me to address them and the one round, full
volume of tone put into the laconic yes was
simply understandable. II was like wave Of
sound and it filed my very soul with its in
tens'ty. 1t was request, an appeal, an in
vitatinn and a hand clasp all in three letters.
"Oh, yes did ask Mr.. Hunter where the
800 husbands were to come from. l meant
il, for 500 men worthy Of those Young
women should be more than average men.
THoCGHTs ON NATRMoNy.
No, do not hold to the opinion that wo-
mans ouly sphere is in marriage The oak
and the ivy theory has disappeared in the
modern science of landscape gardening l
believe firmly in the holy and wholesome
mony as II traffic There is a place, u big
place, in the world for the single woman, and
"a water seeks the level of its source, 50 she
will find and fill the place for which she Is
fitted If given a chance 20 develop"
Mrs. Kendall would not discuss the causes
of marital infehcity, but thought there was
more stability, more contentment and a more
restful degree of happiness IN the home life
of English women than she had been informed
prevailed in this country.
The American women are very bright
Their resources are wonderful, but their fam
HES are very small We have more children:
our firesides are correspondingly brighter.
Il am intolerant of the woman who Law
ishes her love on lapdog. We women have
dogs, kennels, and packs Of them. We have
them with our babies, but not for them.
Il have been amused reading the column
i'll The Evening World devoted TO the best
methods OF keeping husbands at home"
What would you suggest
Feed the beasts
While we were talking, a messenger came
in with packet from Normal collegian
containing pretty little gold pin and a care
fully penned quotation, with much love,
from Shakespeare. and before she had finished
admiring it, huge bouquet of pink roses
from another girl lover was received
Now isn't it sweet of themf The dear
dear childrenl and not clew to their names
or identity. ! have had just this sort OF at
tention ever since / came 10 New York.
'Jewelsl | have handfuls, but no diamond
necklace from her majesty. The queens
brooch is the royal crown in diamonds, gift
never bestowed ON any rank lower than an
ambassadors. Then i have rings and pins
and pendants from various members Of the
royal family, but the jewel most value is a
diamond horseshoe given me by Prince Leo
pold, the late Duke of Albany. j met him at
drawing room, and passing through hall
way my dress caught on cactus plant, and
before could get it disentangled the gauzy
stuff was badly torn. The young prince
came to my aid, snatched the jewel that Sc
cured decoration to his shoulder, aud pinned
up the torn breadth in my train. Nell Mel
son in New York Evening World.