The Mt. Sterling advocate. (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) 1890-current, 1891-06-16
MI. STERLING, KENTUCKY, TUESDAY, 49, 1891

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{ our nation and the vindicatien of tn
fairest part of the other is a caus
, worthy of the highest genius. TIL
gratitude and applause that would fol
low would be reward not unfttin:
its noblest effort. Since it is agreed
that the negro as basis of sentimen
in iterature--whether realistic o.
notwithstanding played his part, il
to be heard no more, perhaps the day
is not far distant when our wishes
may be realized, and the subject may
receive a treatment commensurate
with its possibilities. And is it not q
subject for the poet or the eulogist
Would it not glow with ever-changing
beauty, under the stroke of genius, the
worthy theme for the master mind
He, who, enlightened by love, and
none other is fit, would tell her story,
will first picture her gathering around
her the scattered elements of a once
happy home soothing the sting of de-
feat palliating the fall of state and
pride and lending to the first dark,
bitter hour of agony and distress "that
mild and healing sympathy that steals
away their sharpness ere one is
aware" And when despair shall
have yielded to resignation, and resig-
nation under the whip of necessity to
energy and toll, and energy and toll
shall have opened wide the gateway
TO a development richer and more glo-
rious than ere dreamed of in the old
days of peace and plenty when on the
ashes Of the past there shall have
arisen a new life instinct with the ge-
MUS and hope of regeneration, he will
show her still in this morning of new
promise the bright and cheering spirit
of light, the conservator of religion,
chastener of fierce and covetous de-
sires, and the inspiration of all Chris
tan impulses.
In an era of progress the amenities
of life are apt to be overlooked. In
the clash decomposition, amidst the
clamor for opulence and the mad
struggle for power, the graces of good
breeding and the saving qualities OF
the soul are often neglected. Honor
itself without some sanctity-unpol-
luted by the practical and material
around which to hover in this calcu-
lating day might lose from vulgar
jostling and long disuse its capacity to
reflect the stain, and its r"'Ter to
avenge the insult. Her-rr Is that our
woihaoaRlays her part as the softener
of the coarscr and the preserver of the
gentler traits of life; and but for her
and her influence, the mourner over
the fOllies and errors of the human
race might well long for a return to
the apathy and humble pretcnsions of
the old idyllic days.
Such we believe to be something of
the conditions that await you now,
and such is the mission you can and
must perform. 1t is the glory of your
sisters in the field thatin this they
have not failed. Nail it to your pride
not to be unworthy of them.
l would do injustice to my subject,
and fail in respect to an impression so
universal and widely accepted as to
command attention, did not speak of
what is called the "idlcness and help
lessness" of Southern women. Never
taught to work, knowing no trade,
how in the hour of adversely can she
sustain, it is said, her trials and
troubles: how can she who has never
known aught but dependence hope to-
overcome unaidcd, the reverses of life.
Well, she does do it, and has done it,
and we might dismiss the subject by
referring to the heroic attitude of our
women in the days of poverty and
want that followed the war, or by re-
calling any of those many instances of
fortitude under private disaster ia
miliar to the recollections of each one
present; but that the charge as stated
naturally involves discussion of a
phase of our life, which has had much
to do in bringing about the high de-
velopment of our women.
The normal sphere of woman is the
sphere of society. No where else can
she appear to half the advantage, or
do half so much good. The history of
human progress proves it the wide
world over. There has never been a
time nor a place, where woman, in the
economy of national life, has been as
signed any other position than that of
the social factor, and there has not
followed degradation in morals, a
falling off in humanity, and a pause
in civilization. When woman de-
sends into the maelstrom of business
life, nothing butts prevailing consider
alton that her course is unusual, and