Sacramento daily record-union., 1890-09-21
LOVELY WOMAN.
AN EX-" BACKwoODs BELLE" ON
SERIOUS SUBJECT.
She Makes Some Telling Points. and Her
Contribution Contains More
Truth Than Poetry.

but when she is disposed to be uncharitable
she is Fury, scorned or unscorned.
1t Us from these simple and ordinary
words, that l propose to take my text.
Those who do not like the gist of it may
turn their attention to Religious Realm"
or fThe Daughters of Eve" while we
who wish will have quiet little confab
on thisStime-worn and moth-eaten subject.
She may not be beautiful, my ideal
woman, but, she is an angel, lent US for
little while. In times Of sunshine and in
shadow she is, equally agreeable, and in
short, we want her at all times. There is
nothing half-hearted nor wishy-washy
about her presence. Shs Is earnest about
everything she does for you. When For
tune withdraws her smile and takes on a
repulsive frown, and the sun tries vainly
to struggle through the heavy clouds, it is
then the sweet comforter cheers and en-
courages until the future does not seem so
gloomy, and we can submit with better
grace TO travel the stony path placed be-
fore our hesitating feet. And when the
sun pierces the dreary pail, and life seems
a deep, sweet draughti of JOY, the little
comforter appears with eyes BEAM
ing with satisfaction at our bright
prospects When sickness and pain
rack the body and the very soul, it is she
who smooths the knots from our brain
with gentle hand, making the torture
seem easier to bear, and charming many
bitter cup till it seems easier to drain.
When you push an entrance into the inner
workings of society when the curtain is
lifted and the glare of day displaces the
languorous, softened lights and the rotten
ness that has been carefully screened by
draperies is exposed to the searching and
disguised gaze; when fair, beautiful
woman, with whom God has intrusted the
holy charge of wife and mother, is found
black and base and untrue to her Heaven
appointed duty; when those whom we
least distrust, who move in the circles of
polite breeding who are blessed with
wealth, beauty and all that bring sunshine
to the heart of woman; when the truth
comes to light that they. are living lie
and abusing the showers of divine favors
the Master has lent them, it is then one
good woman seems in value more than all
the wealth of Golconda, more than all the
beauties that bow at the shrine of society.
1t is then we hold closer to our hearts
some one who is noble and above re-
proach, yet who does not look upon her
:. frivolous sisters as the Holiness Band
expect to on the judgment day and say,
81 am perfect, but alas, poor your
begin to think, then, that all is not
corruption and deceit and treachery in
this world. The old simile is applicable
here Of the snow-white flowers that arise
from the Shiny pools of filthy water, and
the delicate blossoms that vile-smelling
weed may put forth. Women are unchar-
liable toward one another, that we all
know, and among those from whom we
expect only kindness and mercy sometimes
come the bitterest words of hate. From
lips out of which should issue only the
whitest words, come utterances that the
arch-fiend would blush TO call his own. A
woman, when she is evilly disposed, can
accomplish more cruel mischief in a given
length of time than fort men could dream
of. Not that men are angels In Disguise
oh, no. 1t is the little meannesses that are
the very worst.
They have been called the "weaker ves-
sells" In point on physical strength that
is true but at times. in obstinate uncharit-
ableness they are strong and mighty. Take
company all in accord and all bent on
the destruction of some fair pillar, and if
their strength jointly, severally and in
dividually does not accomplish the pur-
pose, that pillar has foundation that no
power could move.
A womanly woman is a queen, and an
unwomanly woman cannot be adequately
described. Get into the midst of crowd
in a milliner's store and listen to the CAB
BILE that fills the air for blocks each way.
Thev are in such hurry to get over all
the ground, they do their best work speed
ily. Centuries are not allowed to elapsed
between one poor victims dissection and that
of another. We do not look for perfection
in human form. And yet it really seems
some people expect it. Some frail girl
NAV have been guilty of some indiscretion
unthinkingly, and may have regretted it
the next instant. Were it overlooked, and
not hoisted on pole to the gaze of the
multitude, the author of it would do better,
and all would be well But no. There
are places, and the sun smiles on some in
California, where any foolish act would be
a rich morsel for the afternoon entertain
ment of company of ladieS-so called.
Some are so anxious to plunge the scalpel
into the writhing victims sensitive nature,
that she forgets her duties to home and
family: neglects her little ones in her
diabolical haste TO enter the social dissect-
ing parlors. One will make a daring guess
at something and another will swear to it.
One will dip into the pool with an inflated
supposition and the rest will take il
for granted, and when they separate
each is charged with sensational items that
would make dizzy the brain of any sensa-
tional reporter. The way they swoop
down ON a victims character is after the
modus operandi of a hawk that lights on
some poor, pitiful little chicken that has
had no chance to scuttle under cover. And
the way he tears it limb from limb buries
his sharp claws in its delicate flesh and
leaves only the dismantled skeleton, is the
yay the scavengers of society do up some
reputation they have taken in hand
Talk about missionaries in China, dark
est Africa and some more places! Why
there is work at home to keep them busy
hard work, too, for it means holding
their tongues and being charitable TO ore
another.
Consistent, is it not, TO confer niekels
and Bibles on some bigoted, greasy heather
10 bring him over from his way of think.
ing to our own, and then hold a caucus
after the missionarying is over and berate
some poor sister because her little Metho-
dist toe uould futter when a band flooded
a room with inspiring music. That social
fight at the ministers was all right
though, when she played Little Brass
Wagon s'Weeyily Wheat" and "Ruth
and Jacob" when every man in the room
kissed her fairly and satisfactorily, and
she came out of the wild chase breathless,
panting. hair all streaming about her face
and no two pieces of drapery intact. They
got over the carpet in figures closely re.
sembling modern quadrille, but in place Of
pretty music 10 guide their steps they
sung.and such sing it was, too, as tune
less and boisterous as a crowd of drunken
revelers. But the chaperones were pleased
40 be hoodwinked into the idea that there
Is great difference between that and
dancing. And there is, too, between glid.
ing quietly around to the rythmical mel
ody Of music and chasing around in that
rrszy way, that by some mischance is de-
nominated genteel game.
We people strain at a gnat and swallow