The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1891-12-24
In WOMAN'S BEHALF.
"KNOW THYSELF."
Study Every Gift You Have and Bring the
Best to Its Highest Development.

| "kNOW THYSELF.
Study Every Gift You Have and Bring the
Best to Its Highest Development.
Not many years ago girl with a
common-school education, coming from
q refined home, where the standards
insured good morals and good man.
ners, could after few weeks spent in
| acquiring some manual art, earn a com
Portable livelihood in several different
fields of employment The publishing
houses, for instance, offered attractive
employment with wages varying from
six to twelve dollars per week Machin-
cry has taken the place of hand labor
and reduced opportunities for employ
ment and wages, thus lowering the
social grade of those employed except
in special houses. The same change has
taken place in other fields. and the COM
mercial world for women has in twenty
years completely changed. The day has
gone by when woman can earn ade-
quate wages without spending time and
money in preparation. The girl of to-day
who faces a future in which she must
support herself, finds two paths before
her. One which means slavery under
the worst conditions imposed by ignor-
ance. the other life of conscious free
dom and growth, because she possesses
abilities and knowledge for which the
world is willing to pay wages, which
are but part OF what it is glad to give.
Is there woman in the world to-day
more to be envied than the wage
earning woman who commands posi-
ton because of her abilities. Civ
ing to the world services for which it
is not only glad to pay. but proud to
honor? How can such positions be
gained by women? by following the
injunction, centuries old. know thy
self" ! almost hesitate, thinking of
the bright young girl faces that will
bend over these words, to write as my
experience forces me to write. because
| must impose on youth a burden that
seems to be the natural portion of the
later life. / would not have the cour-
age were it not for the memory of 9TH
or faces into which have looked with
aching hcar.--faces lined and scanned
By care, and eyes that held look of
terror in their depths because they
faced the world penniless. with no fac
ulties trained that would earn them
food and shelter; women in middle life
and past il, with children to support as
helpless as babies, having the capacity
to eat, sleep and wear clothing, but
with no possibility OF earning these, too
old to learn. and with jus: enough
knowledge of the world TO make them
realize their helpless, hopeless condi-
ton. 1t is the memory Of these faces
passing in procession before me that
impels me to shadow girl faces with
care. Some time they looked out on
life as girls do to-day. not knowing that
autumn would bring the storm.
So repeat to girls, Know thyselfw
Study every gift you have; decide which
expresses you the most clearly. and
work to bring that to the highest de.
velopment That gift is your offer to
the worlds store of knowledge and
happiness Do not wait until your col
lege course is ended before you become
acquainted with yourself. Seek to
find that individual part OF you, and
train it side by side with the whole
woman. This gives emphasis to your
character, compels recognition from
teachers and fellow-students during
the college life, aud creates an atmos-
pherc that stimulates toward success
in your special field. This leading will
be q great help to teachers. for we
must remember that one of the chief
advantages OF 4 college training is the
h0luY hrnpY01,f int a. x.,stA Lc
trained in special Ines, and that these
minds are always on the alert for kim
dred minds. 1t is but natural when a
student is found who possesses talent
and inclination in q teachers special
field that to her or to him this student
must be more interesting than the one
whose mind shows no peaks Study to
find the one talent that distinguishes
you from every other girl you know.
DO not be afraid Of trademark.
This sounds very commercial, but we
are talking of the commercial side of
college education. which we all admit |
is almost imperative for the woman
who must support herself above the
level of mere manual labor.
The foundation given by q college
training should enable any woman to
support herself in comfort If a wom-
an fails with college education, then
there is . fault that would have made
a worse failure without that founda-
ton.
College training will not create brains
or character; it develops both. have
met many college-trained women who
never would or could become self-sup-
porting. They were ADLER women,
more attractive women, because of |
their training. but that training had no
grip on their lives One thought Of it
rs 4 piece Of chamois in the polisher's |
hand going over well-made, grace
fully formed piece of furniture; it
would not be complete without the pol |
ish, bu; it would have served its pur.
pose FOR the college training. 70 have
a commercial value it must be taken in |
an earnest, heroic spirit; it must be |
rs both shield and n |
sword 4 part of the necessary equip |
ment OF every woman, no matter in |
what capacity she serves. She must, if |
that training is to serve her and the |
world, take each study as tool. which |
will be called upon in the future, not |
perhaps in its individual capacity. but |
as the adjunct of the principal tool she
will use in life's workshop.
Tho wheel of fortune turns rapidly in
our age. Poverty follows wealth very
and if to that poverty is added
the burden of ignorance, how helpless.
how hopeless. is the outlook for those
And where the wheel re-
verses, and wealth follows poverty
:,~l /