The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1891-06-11
Delivered in Lyric Hall, June 5th,
1891, at the 12th Annual 0radu.
ating Exercises d the Cresco
High School.
DORA OR PRISCILLA, WHICH?
An Essay, by Miss Lille e. Thayer, d
the Creeco High School Ami
voraarv lima K 1901


ing accomplishments On which SO much
useful time is now wasted; for, though
accomplishments may enhance the charm
OF youth and beauty, OF themselves suffi-
GENTLY charming, they will be found of
very little use in real life.
1t is mistake to say that there is SCI
ence enough for woman III the kitchen.
She ought to be 80 educated as to be as
nearly as possible the equal OF man; un-
distingulshable from him except in sex;
equal to him in rights and votes. A
higher education will give her thought
and enable her to anticipate and provide
for the contingencies Of life, suggest i'm
proved methods of management and give
her strength in every way.
Woman's influence is great; and where
she is morally pure and enlightened, So
ciety will be prop0rtionately elevated.
ut is III length OF patience, endurance
and forbearance that SO much of what is
good in mankind and womanklnd is
shown" In this respect woman has
shown herself quite the equal OF man.
Two types Of woman may be represen-
ted by Dora and Priscilla: Dora, the |
"chlld-wife" Of Dickens David Copper
field, and Priscilla, the Puritan maiden |
OF Longfellow's "Courtship of Miles
Standish." Let us first characterize Dora.
Dora was the only child of rich Eng
lishman. During the early part Of her
life she was humored q great deal and
she was never taught to look after her
self. Naturally she was weak and never
became self.reliant. When worldly
troubles came up before her she had al
ways had friends to shield her, but she
never tried to resist or overcome them
herself.
Dora received her early education from
her ROverness, or confidential friend as
she was called. When she was quite
young she was sent to Paris to school.
Here she was educated mostly to Guilt
waite the graces Of French lady, rather
than her brain. This made her weak
character weaker instead OF strengthen
ing and improving 1t.
On the death of her father, il was found
that her home would have to be sold to
pay his debts. Left alone in the world,
she could not take care of herself, and
she went to live with her two maiden
aunts.
Some time after this she married Da-
vid Copperfeld, and took upon herself
the responsibilities of household. She
knew very little abe ut housekeeping and
David could not help her any. Dickens
said, "They knew about as much as two
birds about housekeeping" They were
always obliged to keep servants and al
ways had a great deal of trouble with
them.
A short time after she was married,
she resolved to be what she called "a
wonderful housekeeper." Then she col
: lected her tablets, pencils and cook books
and bought an immense account book.
But she was SO helpless that she couldn't
even figure up the few small purchases
she had made in one day.
About two Yeas after she was married
her health failed. She fingered along
for some time, and, at last, after proving
her complete incapability for the respons-
Utilities OF life, she dropped into that
sleep from which no one ever awakens.
Now let us pass on to Priscilla. Pris-
ella was modest and pure and sweet,
the Mayhower of Plymouth. Longfel-
low compares her to Bertha the Beauti-
full Spinner, who had her distaff fastened
to her saddle, and spun as she rode.
She was SO thrifty and good that her
name has become proverb.
As we have said. Priscilla was the Pur-
itan maid OF Longfellow's "Courtship of
Miles Standish." She was wooed by
Captain Standish through the mediation
of his friend, John Alden. who was also
in love with her. She preferred Alden
and married him after the supposed
death OF the Captain. The Captain ap-
peared at the close of the wedding service
and old friends were reconci;ed.
Priscilla was not child OF wealthy
parentage. She never had anyone to
follow her around and keep her out of
Sl,o
children who keep themselves out of dan
ties to perform.
Early in life she accepted the Puritan
religion, and she with many others was
prosecuted on account of their religious
beliefs. She came to America in the
Mayfiower, and on the way over, she
mace obvious her patience, her cheer
fulness and her care for others. She
always seemed bright and happy and she
wore smile on her face.
During that first winter after the May
flower arrived in America, the death an
gel cast the shadow OF its wing over Ply
mouth and took Priscilla's father, mother
aud brother, and she was left alone. 1t
was hard for her to give them up, but she
did, and bore her burden OF sorrow like
a heroine. During the time OF sickness
Priscilla had gone about doing all the
good she could, but now she often visited
the graves of her loved ones.
Priscilla, it seems, was always placed
in position where she had to partly or
wholly care for herself. But did she
droop her beautiful head now, and sit
down for some one to take care Of her?
No. She had always cultivated her
strength, and now, in the time Of afflic.
ton, when all that was near and dear to
her was taken away, and she felt that she
would have to brace up and 60 to work
for herself, she had some idea of what to
do.
In the springtime Priscilla went to live
with family who lived back in the woods
some distance from the shore. Here she
worked from morn till night; and when
she was not busy working about the
house, she would sit by her spinning
wheel and sing and spin. Priscilla lived
to be quite an old woman; and the world
must be better for her and all other such
women having lived.
There is one defect in Priscilia's life
that We might point out, that Of educa-
ton. We know nothing OF her education;
people were not very we'll educated then.
LV0u LILO uiSucI CAdo60o ldCAcNl III tuHt
point compared with this latter part of
the nineteenth century. But even this
Puritan maiden with just her common
education is nearer the type OF true wo-
man than Dora with all her pretty ac-
complishments.
It used to be favorite notion about
woman that her weakness and depend
ency upon others constituted her princi-
nal claim fo admiration sSTf vOu da.
scribe right woman in laudable sense,
she should have gentle softness, tender
fear, aud all those parts OF life which dis