Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-04-06

for a brain worker. l envy men who can
leave their easels for a pipe and lounge in
other studios, or the easy camaraderie of a
club or cafe, who can stop by the wayside
and chat with a stonebreaker if it suits
them, to whom the worlL is free to make &C
quaintance where they will, to speak their
opinions frankly, to admire, to make friend
ships without blame. I care nothing what
ever for political equality or rights that
women clamor after. But many women feel
as do that their solitary lives might have
more free air and sunshine without discredit
to their sex or loss to the world. I, for one,
have been thousand times grateful to that
arbiter of manners and customs, Mrs. Sher-
wood, for saying that professional and work.
ing women must be allowed privilege and
freedom from the code of society as regards
their coming and going, journeying without
escort or alone, or being out evenings later
tnan the carefully kept darlings OF prosper
GUS homes, because to earn her livelihood
and do her work woman must have liberty.
That opinion of leader in society has
been charter to many well-bred women
who earn their living, and society generally
recognizes the necessity of such concession.
1t might go farther and give those women
leave to taste some amusements, and not
condemn its faithful workers to the lot of
galley slaves practically, ior want of con-
genial companionship. q have room
mate, with whom l get on in perfect amity,
because we have thorough Indifference to
each other and thorough independence. She
gives no trouble, or companionship either
It would be a boon should prefer to any
suffrage or Office, il tonight 1 might take
my seat in theater alone, without COM
ment, and then ride quietly straight to my
own door. Or if could 60 to the historical
society's meeting or the polytechnic, and
stop alterward in cafe and have an ice,
and chat with the waiter girl precisely with
the same freedom from thought of criticism
as my neighbor artist, who wears a mus
tache. Or even if I might walk this gusty
rainy night ''to see the boulevards break in
fame" it would be a new world to me, in
stead of sitting here, feeling my heart beat
as if every throb it fretted against thread.
NOT LICENSE TO ERR.
do not want license to err, want leave
to live. Either the kindness or the freedom
we women must have-would it be any great
harm if we had both? I once thought I had
a friend to my mind for six weeks, one of
these mobile, impressionable, brilliant
creatures, with eyes that shed exquisite
kindliness on everything with their ray.
In that time revived in imagination, in
body and mind; I painted as never before,
I worked without weakness and slept with
People said how we'll you
look, and some women told me had grown
pretty. In that equable state of blood and
nerves in that stimulus of every sweet and
happy feeling, why should not expression
grow eloquent, the eve clear and full of
light. the walk easy and graceful? Gould
that friendship have continued I should
have done such work as makes the world
pleased. But such inspirations come like
the wind and 60 like it.
do not regret the loss Of regard.
Tell me how love goethf
That was not love which went.
But 1 DO regret the inspiration. Artists
ard writer's will know what mean. Had
It been a lover or husband changing so, it
would not have been so hard. As it was
,nly friendship, sweet and delicate as first
ove, it can never be replaced-in this
world.
Of what use is it to tell women how to
1eep young, or for them to look ten years
than they are, when that is only
'eason for restriction and suspicion? Peo-
,le say to me in cold blood "You are too
7oung looking and pretty to 60 round
Ilone," and I stay in decorously, and let
ife eat itself away.
Farewell. EUsTACIA.
Do not take this for an imaginary letter.
t bears every evidence of reality.
SHIRLEY DARE.