The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1891-03-19
in WOMAN'S BEHALF.
HELPFUL WOMEN.

in WOMAN'S BEHALF.
HELPFUL WOMEN.
How Some Wives and Sisters Have Aided
In the Success Of Their Loved Ones.
Woman is designedly companion
and helpmate for man. She can assist
him in the affairs Of humble home. or
in the duties of public life. She is no
less womanly when she enters the vari-
Gus arts, sciences. trades and profes-
sions than when she graces only the
domestic circle. Successful men in
public or private life often owe much
of their success to the assistance rem
dered them by their wives. mothers or
sisters.
DR.. Franklin once observed = me
chanic at work, who seemed very
happy, and had good word and .
cheerful smile for erybody. He in
qnired as to the cause of his constant
and happy flow of spirits. The man re-
piled: i've got one of the best of wives,
and when go to work she always gives
me kind word of encouragement and
= blessing with her parting kiss; and
when GO home she is sure to meet me
with smile and kiss Of welcome; and
then tea is sure to be ready; and rs we
chat in the evening, find she has been
doing SO many little things during the
day to please me that / can not find it
In my mind to speak an unkind word
or give an unkind look to anybody" !"
Such is the helpful and beneficent in
flrcnce of woman over man. 1t soft
ems the heart, refines the manners, in
spires the energies, and renders life
happy.
In the field of literature, successful
men are often indebted to their wives
for the help without which they never
could have succeeded. Robert J. Bur
dette, the well-known humorist and
lecturer, says: Whatever of earnest
ness and high purpose there is in my
life, owe to the gentlest. best and wis
est of critics and collab borators, . low
ing, devoted wife, When Hawthorne
was removed from office in the custom
house at Salem, Mass, he went home
with heavy heart, on wintry day,
scarcely knowing what to do next, and
told his wife. She kindled bright fire
with her own hands; she then brought
pen, ink and paper, and placed them
before him; and with the light Of hope
and love beaming in her countenance,
she said: Now you can write your
book" His face lighted up. he took
courage, went to work with renewed
energy, and wrote THE Scarlet Let
ter his first popular work. whose mar
relous success abundantly rewarded
him. When Sir William Hamilton was
chosen q professor in the Edinburgh
university, he began to write his lectures
10 the students, and by hard work was
enabled to keep few hours in advance
If his class His wife sat up Of nights
70 write out q fair copy Of the poorly.
written pages he had hurriedly scrawl.
ID; and the next morning he would gc
before his class with her legible sheets,
instead of his own.
Great statesmen have likewise been
materially assisted in their labors by
woman's grace, Judgment, and fertility
If thought. The wife of Gen. John A.
Logan relieved him of many details, at
ended to his correspondence, did {
rood deal Of copying for him, and
would sometimes examine and mark
authorities upon which he was going tc
speak. Gladstone, the great English
statesman and parliamentary orator
depends much upon the advice and helT
# his wife. She is always mindful o1
ais comfort and careful of his health
,he takes care of his books. papers and
magazines, and attends to much Of his
public and private business. She is .
careful student of public affairs. and
aer opinion is often Of great value
Prince bismarck said of his wife: ''She
t is who has made me what am.
Burke, Disraeli. and many others have
acknowledged with gratitude the helr
II their wives, to whom the credit fol
heir success is largely due. In the
American revolution, Lady" Washing
on and Abigail Adams did much to aii
md encourage their husbands in theil
abors.
In the domain OF scientific investiga
ion, discovery and teaching, woman,
lelp has been no less valuable. viii
lam Herschel, the great astronomer
aever could have reach his high attain
nents and executed his grand achieve
nents but for the help of his sister Car
,line. While he took his seat at the grea
elescope to watch the heavens. she sa
n the nearest room, pen in hand, to re
ord his observations James Parton
he well known biographer, says: II
William Herschel was one Of the mos
nccessful astronomical explorers, h
.wed very much of his sue
.ess to sympathy and intelli
,ent cooperation of his sister Car
,line." When Huber, the celebrate,
swiss naturalist. became blind, he con
lucted his observations and gathers
lis facts by the aid Of his wife's eyes
Henry Fawcett, another blind man, b.
he help Of his cultured wife becam
. professor Of political economy at Cam
bridge, an able member Of parliament
, and successful postmaster-general Q
England.
. Not few cases have been known 1
, which women have mastered variou
arts and sciences for the purpose Of be
, ng companionable and helpful to thei
husbands in their chosen pursuit.
. When Gen. Charles f. Ellet was eng
, neer Of the suspension bridges acros
, .he Ohio and Niagara falls, his wife
. 1t mature age, studied the highe
, mathematics, in order to assist her hu.
. band aud sons in their work. Whe
l:oebling, chief engineer, had sacrifis
ed his health in the construction Of tn
bridge between New York and Brool
lyn. and could no longer carry on tn
vast and intricate calculations necessar
. 10 the work, his wife fitted herself fO
; the task. performed the duties, m
, completed the job.-Rev. B. w. Wi
! liams, in Woman's Journal.