The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1890-06-26
THE HON. HENRY WATTERSON.
THE KENTUCKY EDITORS AD-
DRESS TO THE GRADUATES OF
THE HIGH SCHOOL.
THE DAWNING OF THE NEW DAY.
An Emphatic Conclusion Against
Women's Suffrage Drawn
BY the Speaker.

Henry Watterson, editor OF the Cour-
ier.Jonrnal. delivered the address to
the graduates of the Female High
School here TO day After graceful
introduction the speaker said;
81 have always rejected the conceit
that the man is the oak and the wo-
man the vine That is n figment of a
very vain, one-Sidod and masculine
imagery. The woman is the mans
prop and support, as the man is the
woman's physical shield and buckler,
and neither could dispense with the
other. Happily for bolh'this view Of
the case has made such progress in
modern ethics and among civilized
nations that we seem to have reached
the border land Of new world, which
promises to unravel the tangled web
Of human error and to solve the Old
Worlds problem Of the sexes.
"That in the worst Of times woman
was power, we\know; but she was
not always power for good. 1t may
be doubted whether upon the roman
tic and sentimental side her force as
an inspiration has been increased with
her emancipation from ieudal bonds
and limitations. But there can be no
doubt that the striking away of the
shacklcs that 50 restricted her move.
ment has greatly enlarged her per-
sonal influence and intellectual posi-
ton, creating II new and potent pres
ence 10y the very act which annihilat-
ed phantom Of the dark ages. |
cannot believe that any man was ever
the weaker for having in his wife an
intellectual equal, and to the point of
that intellectual equality would edu.
cate the woman. The point at which
would mark II distinction between
them and draw the educational line
is solely and purely moral point.
at is my firm conviction that no
human being was ever beneti ted by
familiarity with depravity. And |
would, as far as possible, keep our
women out of II knowledge Of the de-
PRAYED side OF human nature and
human conduct. | do not mean to
argue that point, but | am satisfied
that their happiness as well MS their
domestic usefulness will be proper
toned to their ignorance Of vice and
squalor. God grant that these dear
girls may never know what | know
and what all men know OF the wicked
ness which the great cities OF the
world evolve and exuded."
From this promise Mr. Watterson
drew an emphatic conclusion against
women's suffrage.
He said the proper ideal should III
ways be womenly women and manly
men. He said
81 don't want to see my women loaf
ing around the polls aud sitting up at
night with the returns of the elections,
not because | would deny them any
right, but because, as far as my ohser
vation goes, that sort of thing is OF
questionable value to the develop
ment Of male character, ard can GER
tainiy not contribute much to nlch
the store of female virtue. To you,
young ladies, who think that you
have just finished your education, but
who are really just beginning it, let
me say first, last and all the time,
don't be in Il hurry. The world is all
before you take your time in deter
mining what you are going to do in
life.
"rhere is prevailing idea very
credible in itself, but still fad, that
no girl should marry TO get living,
to he taken care of or to escape work
To the extent that this means that
every woman should be exempt from
dependence on anybody, | readily
subscribe to it. Every woman should
be in her own person independent il
ia no more of disgrace for woman
TO earn her living by honest work than
it is n disgrace for man to earn his
living by the samo process"
"But in the nature of the case {
great majority OF women will marry
and ought to marry and in my injunc
tion--don't be in hurry-appliei
here rs elsewhere. Don't be in a hur
ry to get "a lover; don't be in hurry
to get a husband, the woods are full
OF them"
The address concluded as follows
"Let me- ia closing, congratulate,
you on the honors you have VOL
in school; rejoice with you that tn
tucks are about to come out of you
dresses; anticipate with you ant
yourselves the beauty and the glory
OF your completed womanhood.
"The school-room fades into tn
shadow OF the rooi-tree, the roof-tre
into the midst of dreamland. TIL
new day dawns with its high hope
and bright tints may it be a long an
happy day TO each and every one
YOU"
The Family Educator.
Webster's Unabridged Dictionary
great family educator, and no iami