The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-09-12
BRAINY WOMEN.
The Inceesapt Prating on the Duties and
Sphere of Woman.

The Inceesapt Prafing on the Duties and
Sphere OF Woman.
Editor ITom0n's Column. Morning Call ::
As soon as Wyoming was safely in the
Union another howl was heard from the
provincial East al along the Atlantic line.
1t may or may not be true that the admis-
sion of women to share in the Intellectual
training which has been monopelized by
men is already beginning to bear fruit; at
any rate we are having remarkable illustra-
tions of the mental achievements Of the sex.
Women are bearing off a series OF remarka-
BILE scholastic successes in the universities,
while the three most widely read novels OF
the last year were written by women.
Within five years one young woman has
taken first honors in the classical tripos, an
other is senior wrangler at Cambridge, En-
gland, while another has won the Sargent
prize at Hartford for the best metiical ver-
sion of Horace
/ am heartily wearied out with this inces-
SAINT prating on the duties and sphere OF
woman. \ stranger would take it Tor
granted-if lie listened TO the continuous
howl-ihat every American woman is born
with depraved and fatal tendency to wan
der from the path Of home. ana can only be
reclaimed b. the cali of duty (?) sounded in
iler ears by set Of fanatics. They seem to
feel morally sure that whenever woman IS
fond of books or-fearful enormity-of writ
ing one that her
HOME LIFE
Must of necessity be sadly neglected. do
not think 1t necessary that woman-to be
a woman-shonld be always in the practice
of household laborS. There is a sell of cant
about the whole thing that annoIs me.
These fanatics seem also to have dread
that when one departs from the refnementS
dear to all true wOmanly instincts that, the
example once SET, womankind are all ready
to forSake their old habits and customs and
make fer themselves new line of life.
have read much of late in regard to literary
women"-a term which includes readers II
books as well as lovers of the pen-and
cannot but be surprised when ind that
some have dread that the intellectual! cul-
tlvation of woman IS Incompatible with the
fnltilment of those duties that make her the
dispensing spirit of harmony, peace and hap
pineSS in her home ard it seems to me 1t be-
trays pitiabie lack of observation, expert
ence, or Just appreciation. That woman
will surerintend her household with less
skill and grace because she has enriched her
mind ard ripened her judgment by familiar
ity with works of genius, or by the study oil
grave authors, is simply ridiculous. In
order that she may be wise and tender
mother,
A DEVOTED WIFE,
that She possess liberal education and be
utterly devoid OF narrow ideas and views.
Let her be the posSeSSor of good education
and she will no, be the less loving, wise or
skillful, though every room contain Its
library and every corner its eScritoire. Give
her a character Hithou il and, although her
whole life be spent in the pract ce oil do
nestle duties, she will fail in producing that
sweet harmony, order and system that en-
rich the blessedness Of home, and develop
the full meaning of that sacred word.
] have been in homes where the sweet
spirit OF genuine genius has been the light
and warmth of the household, where the
lofty ideal of thought and lie was felt BY
every fortunate member OF that charmed
circle. The eliminating point OF these
sneers is That literary women never worthily
and wisely fill the place of wives and
mothers. One would suppose that the many
true and beautiful women, whose noble
lives are part of the literature they aorn,
would have shamed the unworthy thought
from every thinking mind. There is not, l
am sure, one man OF noble mind and true,
earnest heart who would choose that
THE WIFE OF HIS LOVE
Should not be able to meet him with COM
pretending sympathy among the DOCKS
and subjects dear to him; that would not
JOY in tie quick intuiliye perceptions OF the
though,-enriched mind.
A wouan's heart Is so dependent IN lis
needs that there is no fear that she Will
drain her sweet springs or blight its bloom.
Literary honorS are too cold Il reward To
atone for the loss of wife and mother Joys.
On woman devolve all the tender ministra-
tons of home. and she who can combine
literary achievements with the performance
of those duties is blessed indecd; and she
who can succeed in that which makes home
blessed ought, it seems to me, to send forth
harmonies into the great world home. II
sweet melodies and tender thoughts are in
her mind let her JOY in their expression as
simply and naturally as that in any utter
ance Of her nature. Let her sing of the di-
vine truths that come to her spirit in times
of musing, Joy or sadness, and let them go
forth To bless the needy hearts as they have
blessed her own. And since to woman has
been intrusted all that most ennobles, re-
fiues and purifes the world, let her live up TO
tie sweet ideal and make the expression Of
her life more beautiful than that of her pen.