The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1891-04-18

which blOssomed under the plantation sys-
tenn, and yet in the natural order of things
it would inevitably have run to caste dis
tinction. 1t had social ideals that were
impracticable, and it had literary ideals that
We're foolish; nevertheless, after everything
has been said, caste distinctinctions under
the plantation system would have been less
distasteful than those which are now in
process of organization in some parts Of this
country. Whatever the development of
southern civilization might have been under
the old system, it has come under the DOM
nation of the new. That the new has
been strengthened and sweetened thereby |
think will not be denied by impartial OBJ
servers who have no pet theories to nurse.
Take, for example, the home life of the
plantation. 1t was larger, ampler, and
more perfect than that which exists in the
republic to-day, not because it was more
leisurely and freer from care, but because
the aims and purposes of the various men,
bers of the family were more concentrated.
The hospitality that was feature of it was
more unrestrained and simpler because it
bore no relation whatever to the demands
and suggestions of what is now known as
Society"
The home-life of the old plantation has
had a marked influence on the southern
women of to-day in their struggles with
adverse circumstances. They lack, for one
thing, the assurance of those who have
inherited the knack of making their way
among strangers. The poetic young Bos-
tonian who has been writing recently OF
'The Mannerless Sex" and "The Ruthless
Sex" could never have made the southern
woman text for his articles; and trust
that for generations yet to come they will
retain the gentleness and the graciousness
that belong TO them by the right of inner
itance.
Comparatively speaking, it has only been
few years that the southern woman has
been compelled by circumstances to seek a
wider and more profitable field for her
talent, her energy, and her industry than
the home and the fireside Afford and the
experience of these few years has demon.
strated the fact that she is amply able to
take care of herself. In shaping and de-
veloping what is called the new literary
movement in the South she has shown
herself to be far more versatile worker
than the men-more artistic and more
conscientious.
She has made herself felt in art, in sci
ence, and in the schools; she has taken {
place in the ranks of the journalists; she
has place on the stage and the platform
she is to be found in many of the trades
that are next door to the arts, in the pro
LESSONS, and in business; she is stenograph,
ing, typewriting, clerkiug, dairying, gar
dening; she is to be found, in short, wher-
ever there is room for her, and her field is
always widening.
| think she will exercise a mellowing
and restraining influence on the ripping
and snorting age just ahead of us-the rat
thing and groaning age of electricity
What part she may play in the womans
rights movement of the future it is diff
cult to say. Just now she has no aptitude
in that direction. She has been taught to
believe that the influences which are the
result of a happy home life are more pow
erful and more important elements of poll.
ties than the casting of ballot, and in
this belief she seems to be at one with an
overwhelming majority of American women
the mothers and daughters who are the
hope and pride of the republic.
Yet she is an earnest and untiring tenn
perance worker. Conservative in all other
directions, she is inclined to be somewhat
radical in her crusade against rum. She is
inclined to fret and grieve little over the
fact that public opinion fails to keep pace
with her desires. The wheels of legisla-
ton do not move fast enough for her, and
she is inclined to wonder at it. In the in
nocence other heart she has never suspected
that there is demijohn in the Legislative
committee room.
There is no question and no movement
of real Importance in which she is not in
terested Her devotion and self-sacrifce
in the past have consecrated her to the flu
ture, and her suferings and privations have
taught her the blessings Of charity in its
largest and last Interpretation.