Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1890-03-20
For the Ellsworth American.
Woman 5 Opportunity.

1t is some years since Mrs. Stowe made
one of her heroines to saw: Yes, the day
has now come thank God, when woman
as well man can have some other
cause besides that of the heart. Let her
study her profession. expand her mind.
broaden her power, become all that she
can"
Since the advent OF that blessed dav up
To the present, this principle has steadily
gained in fore, and favor, till now earn
est. self reliant women are filling positions
Of trust and honor everywhere, are promi
rent in professions leaders of reform and
foremost In every worthy work.
How sad the retrospect! Like Mrs.
have experienced the yearuing, the unrest,
The craving of tastes and ambitions uugrat-
ihed; the wiill,ring fIom di-u-e Of facul-
ties OF mind and soul the slow dying day by
day of cherished hopes and aspirations un-
realized. Quite unlike the heroine quoted,
the day Of their emancipation never came
on which they had courage 10 say II have
chosen my Way and mean tn keep To it
Mark the change, No woman to-day
need s,ll her brthright for a mess Of pot
tage, and no young girl need make ship
wreck of her life by re>orting To the terri
tile necessity of hartering herself in mar
rage to man whom she neither loves nor
respects, in return for needed food and
clothes and shelter
Her enlarged opportunities forbid it.
The advantages Of educational equipment
are within easy reach, such a. VIII enable
her tn meet the world single handed Fa
cllitic> for obtaining employment that
will guarantee her self-support. are open
in many avenues previously closed to wo-
men. Social distinction, along many
lines, awaits the ssprsnt for its benefits.
Better than all. standards have changed.
No Stigma rests upon honest labor The
mother who secures an honest livelihood
for herself and little ones by her own un-
every right minded person. The better
time" ha~ come in which the homely virtues
II modesty, integrity and self-re>pect are
currency on which there Is no discount,
and We would fain heieTc that a woman
i huuorcd for the Inherent worth Of her
character and innate goodness of heart; l.
estimated by he purity of her life, gra-
clousue>, OF her manner. earne>tness Of
her purpose rather than by the number or
style of her dresses.
That unique and popular writer Ella
Wheeler Wilcox. offers this encouragement
TO her de-pondent sisters II believe We
are only denied the things We crave, In or
der 10 test the strength Of our desire. But
TIN, soul that looks steadily in the face OF
it, desire makes no complaint. recognizes
no i'll. fortune. but demands of life the
thing it graves and believes 1t will be
given-that soul will obtain its wish so
sure a. the sun shines There are no cir
cum>tances which can overthrow or cir
cunveul the passionate resolve of noble,
earnest soul
Not every woman may attain the emil
ntnt success nf a Harriet Beecher Stowe,
of an Anna Dickinson or Charlotte Cush.
man. II may be only once in century that
a Rosa Bunhrur is born into the world. But
the Possibilities of womanhood receive
an added dignity and beauty because OF
such noble heroic lives. Our own horizon
broadens and q more exalted aspiration ln-
spires renewed endeavur. If We but reinem-
+ ber only, ''such as these have lived and
died" The fact that some God given FAC
uliy i, implanted in human soul Is reas-
( enable excuse fol its exercise, If. indeed,
excuse is needed; and the woman, how
ever timid and shrinking she may be whose
taste or inclination leads in the direction OF
art or science, of literature or business, may
take heart of grace" the talent Is her
own to enjoy. to improve. to develop for
the good of the world just the same as If
she had been born man-why not?-and
only in its exercise can she find her fullest
happiness.
! The humblest wage worker in city is
surrounded by opportunities, many and va
prietor-hip in its intellectual life. The
fact that she keeps books, or measures
lace does not debar her from its education
al privileges. from the enjoyment of its IL
braries, museums of art, music and litera'
ture She can avail herself, with possibly
greater appreciation than her more fortu
nate sisters, of its lectures. concerts, and
oratorios. The writer is told of modest
little necktie maker who contributes excel
lent verses to a tirst-class magazine, ant
of suspender makers, formerly teachers
who belong to Browning clubs and discuss
the tariff and similar vital questions. Be
sides her own club, society, debate, va
rious associations and unions open to he
a friendly door and are untiriDg in thei
efforts TO educate her into an appreciation
of her improved opportunities, and the de
velopment of her highest powers o
hand heart and brain.
The day star of promise is surely risIn:
in womans skies-there is no mistakiDi
D the signs of the times. The conservativ
raises his remonstrance in agony Of spirit
, aud deplores 1.-THE dissolution of the sacre
institution of home," "the inevitable uu
sexipg of woman" ct c9terd, too numerou
to mention.
Notwithstanding this clamor, like wa
of woe to heaven, there yet remain deal
delightful, domestic women, whose HON
is their castle and whose children will ris
I'D and call them blessed.
Does the fact that she may preside uT
1 on q Judges bench make her less lovel
and loving, less devoted and womanly
$ Is her home any less dear TO her becaus
E her mind is enriched by knowled -e Of tn
eternal verities? Does she fail in her re
) lations as wife and mother because sh
studies with vitsl interest the laws whic
!. should protect the sacredness of that rels
tion?'
La spite Of 'sreform," rather let US sa
because of it, there are women thorough
aroused to an appreciation Of the primo