The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1891-06-12

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Penny took me to our own house as
soon as possible, and there, leaning back
comfortably in an easy chair in the bay
window where usually spent the morn
ing, where the sunbeams could make more
rosy my pale hands and CLINT across the
delicate blue folds of my, chamber gown,
unused over my life, wrought out my re-
pentance and planned my reform. "Life,"
said to myself, sis troubled sea, and the
only compass for the barks that sail upon
it is the compass of duty" This common
place is only commonplace because it is SO
very true.
And what, then, are the duties of mar
ried women? remember that once, in the
course of a conversation about the progress
of human ideas which had with Middle
ton Hall during the early days of our ac-
quaintance, he told me that the movement
of civilization was 'from Status to Con-
tract" I never wholly understood this
phrase, but have fair idea of its mean
ing, and know what is meant by saving
that the idea of the contract is the idea of
modern civilization.
If women are no longer the handmaids
they are the partners of their husbands;
they enter into contracts with them; they
owe duties to them, and through them to
society, which they must pay. For we all
must contract to assist each other; if we
did not owe to each other liberation, sup
port and protection modern society would
tumble to pieces. Society must exist; if
you imperil its existence by refusing to
agree to its requirements it will crush you.
The people at whom laughed in Newport
were quite right, after all. There was no
reason why they should have been toler-
4 \
trampled down their moral flower gardens,
especially as they knew that they had
planted no seeds and used no gardening
implements but those advertised and sup
piled by society," Their circumstances
were perfectly proper, and if ever meet
any of them again shall be tempted to
tell them so.
hope that my moral is easy to under
stand.
Girls, be careful! Do not be led away by
your desires for racketing amusements and
careless enjoyment. You cannot take your
lives into your own hands and defy So
ciety! You cannot live according to your
own sweet willsl If you endeayor to do SO
your ideas will become more and more re-
laxed, and you will wind up with big
smash just as did Observe, l say to you
again, observe the rules which society pre-
scribes. They may be different in Ashantee
from what they are here-if you choose to
go and live in Ashantee you need not con-
form to our notions-but they always
exist and insensibly make themselves felt.
They are always suited to the genius of
the people among which they are found,
and you must follow and not try to lead
unless you feel yourself inspired. But then
the inspiration must be direct, for nobody
can afford to make mistake about in
spiration.
If had known the wisdom which now
possess little earlier might have avoided
all my errors and married Middleton Hall,
and should not have been forced to wait
-as am now forced to wait-before tax
ing the absolute lead in society as far as in
me lies. For as the emblems of authority
are the necessaries Of mans existence, so
are position and consequence the base and
the only solid foundation for the existence
of a woman, but in course of time this for
which wait shall come to me. will be
an arbitress, judge, and my example shall
be that of a woman who does her duty. If
am mistaken in this-as do not think
am Likely to bel will change my theories
yet ouce more, and believe that woman isa
domestic animal. | will sit by the fire,
pur. drink tea and knit stockings
And if / had married Middleton Hall
how entirely satisfactory my life would
have been. The wife of man of splendid
dignity and reputation, could have as
sumed the position of q leader in society in
far higher sense than simply that of a
popular belle, gay priestess of feasts and
follies. My chosen acquaintance would
have been honorable, educated, literary.
should have had foolish intimacies with |
nobody, and frivolity would have been be-
meath me. I should have maintained sa |
lon, and not even my husband should al
ways have shared my inmost confidence. |
But that cannot be. have chosen for bet |
ter for worse. l recognize that fact, and |
can fairly say that l am happy AS for |
emotional or hysterical moods, have none. |
am long past the time, and can smile at |
the recollection of it, when l could dwell |
with pleasure on the Arcadian ideal of love |
in ? cottage
My life is practical, and l am glad to
think that do not rest upon the counsels |
of any directeur, lay or spiritual. Of
course do not mean to give the impress
sion that have not awakened to sense
of my duties in regard to religion. ! know |
now that for long time was very god
less woman. go to church; take just |
interest in parish work; / am directress
of one hospital and visitor to another.
In a word, know that religion is one of |
my duties-the highest of them-and am
persuaded that have to the best of my
ability thought over the whole circle of |
my duties, religion among them, and give
to each its proper share of attention.
have been deprived of one more advant-
age by my misfortunes. see other women
able to indulge their finer feelings in their
associations with their families, their hus-
bands and their children. do not con-
slider that such transports, such delights,
come under the head of what have rough
ly condemned as emotional absurdities.
They are intellectual, they are proper, they
are the same feelings that one experiences
ON reading an exquisite piece of tender de-
scription or witnessing a fine piece of tragic
acting. Yet they are denied to me. From
my family have never been accustomed |
to derive them; and as regards my husband,
though may occupy the position that Mr.
Latitude suggested for me-that of "re-
pentant spouse"-it will be remembered
that gave hint in the first part of my
story that the result of my illness was to
thin my hair and ruin my complexion
Such was indeed the melancholy fact.
regret it. 1t is perhaps my deepest cause
for regret, but it is irremediable except by
nature. only think of it in the connec
tion of which am now speaking 1t has
caused a diminution of my husbands af
fection toward me-
AS he married me in great measure on
of my beauty, and as used it to
make him marry me, can scarcely COM
plain; and indeed think it rather hard on
him The fact ramains hoxvaver that the |