The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-04-09
THANK Heavenl shall have 10 work for

Thank Heaven! shall have 10 work for
them no morel" ..
These Southern women were the outgrowth
of the plantation system. the result Of SIX OF
seven generations Of development. On that
system they placed the impress OF their hu-
Inanity and refinement and the outcome OF IL
is 10 be seen in the condition OF tho negro
race to-day. in the sphere OF their MONIES anu
i'm their social relations they exercised
mower and an influence that has no parallel
In history. As they were themselves, so they
trained their daughters 10 be, and the South
ern women of today still possess the charac-
teristics that made their mothers ana their
crandmothers beautiful and gracious; sun
possess the refinement that built up rare
civilization amid unpromising surroundings;
still possess the energy and patience ana gem
tleness that wrought order and discipline on
the plantations.
IN THIS GENERATION.
Az the vine was 40 must the fruit be. havo
tried TO describe the mistress OF the planta-
ton for the reason that her characteristics
and tendencies have been transmitted 10 the
Southern women Of this generation and 10
the Young girls who nre growing INTO Woinah-
hood IL il inevitable however. that certain
of these characteristics should be modified
or ampllied according As the circumstances
of on environment altogether new may de-
mand. =.
know OF no more beautiful or romantic
civilization than that which blOesoned under
tho plantation system. And yet, IN the natural
order of things il would inevitably have run
To caste distinctions IL had social ideals that
were impracticable. and II had literary ideals
that we're foolish; nevertheless after every
thing hns been said caste distinctions under
the plantation system would have been less
distasteful than those which are now IN pro-
cess of organization in some parts OF this coun-
Whatever the development Of Southern
civilization might have been under the old
system IL hns come under tho domination OF
the new That the new has been strengthened
and sweetsued thereby | think will not be de-
MED by impartial observers VINO nave 10 pet
theories 10 nurse.
Az INHERITANCE or oRACf oUsSEss.
Take fcr example the home lie Of the plan
tation. II WINS larger, ampler and more per-
feet than thnt which exists in the Republic to-
day not because IT WAS more lelsurely anu
freer from care, but because the aims ana pur-
poses Of the various members OF the family
were more concentrated. The hospitality that
was feature Of II WAS more unrestrsined and
simpler because il bore no relation Whatever
10 the demands and suggestions Of what is now
known in SUNDAY newspapers ss society
The homo life of the old plantation has mad
a marked influence on the Southern women
OF to- day in their struggles with adverse cir
cumstances They lack for one thing. the as
surnnce of those who have inherited the
knack of making their way among strangers.
The poetic young BOstonisn " no has been
writing recently Of The MAnnerless Sex" and
The Ruthless Sex" could never have made
the Southern woman text for his articles
aud trust that for generations yet 70 como
thew will retain the gertenesS and the gra-
ciousness that belong to them by night OF H.
heTltance.
A BENEFrCYNT INFLUENCE.
Comparatively speaking II has only been
few years that the Southern woman has been
colnpeled by circumstances to seek a WIDER
and more profitable field for her talent, her
| energy and her industry than the home snd
the iires.de AFFORD. and the experience 81 these
few wears las demonstrated the TACT that she
is amply able 20 take care Of herself.
I'm shaping and developing WHAT'S called the
/ urw literary movement in The South, she Las
shown herself 10 be "a far more versatile
worker than the men-rnoIe artistic and more
+ conscientious.
She has made herself felt in art. in science
/ and 10 the schools she has taken place IN
/ the uinks of the journalists She has place
on the stage and the platform, She ls 20 be
/ fou.l IA many of the trades tnat are neat
/ door % the arts. ia The professions and IN
| husiue,s. She is stenographins typewrting.
/ clcraiug. duirying. gardening sne u % be
/ found ~ short. wherever there is room ior
/ her. and her field Is always widening
! think she will exercise mcl.uwlng and
a rest n ning influence on the uppEg and
! snoring age inst ahead of us-th rafting ma
groaniRg age of electricity. What part she
may play in the Noman's rights move
neut Of the future II is difficult 90 say. inst
now she hus no aptitude ia that direction.
! Slie has been taught 10 behcvc that the i'll
fuenccs that are the result of happy home
lite NE more powerful and more important
elements of politics than the casting OF bal
! lot. and IN this belief she seems 20 be at one
with nu overwhelming majority Of American
wuuicn-the mother, and daughters who are
the hope and pride Of the Republic.
Yet she X an earnest and an unhrng tenn
perauco worker. Conservative III all other
directions. she is inclined to be somewhat
ra iical i'll her crusade against rum. She Is in
clined 10 fret and grieye little over the fact
that public opinion failed 10 keep pace with
her desires. The wheels Of legislation do not
move fast enough for her, and she is inclined
to wonder at il. In the innocence Of her
! heart she has never suspected that there is a
demjohn in the legislative committee-room.
There is no question and no movement Of
real importance in which she is not Interested
Her devotion and self-sacrlfce in the past
have consecrated her to the future. and her
suIerings aud prvs;ions have taught her tho
blessings Of charity in It's largest and last in
terpretation.-Joel Chandler Harris, in y. \.
Herald.