Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1892-02-01
LADIES' COLUMN.
THE WOMAN WHO SPEAKS HER
MIND.

In every neighborhood there is usu-
ally one woman, if not more, VIII o els
not afraid to speak her mind" 1t fire.
quently happens that the neighbors
| are afraid to have her do so, but that
makes no difference. She is not al
ways a bold, Amazon-Hke creature.
Sometimes she is a delicate, intellect
ua1 woman who scarcely seems to
have the courage which must mani
testify belong to one of her genus. She
evidently considers herself more hon
est than her neighbors. She never
DISCUSSES disagreeable truths. If the
Y's have INDUCED in extravagant ia
BILE linen or carpets, she, being dea-
cons wife and happening to know the
state of their charitable fund, feels
quite at liberty to relieve her mind Of
the unkind thoughts which have arts
en- therein, and to do this in the pres
ence of a company Of other women, if
possible. She is not afraid to tell the
minister that he will preach the church
empty if he continues to deliver tenn
perance sermons. She knows just
why the doctor failed to cure despe-
rate case of pneumonia, and frankly
tells him of it. The young woman who
has lost her lover, and the one who is
attracting too much attention from
gentlemen, are other objects of her
especial regard. No age, sex, or con-
dition has sufficient dignity to subdue
her freedom in speaking her mind land
the neighbOrs all agree in wishing that
her mental powers were less acute
The worst feature in this woman's
case is that she and most of her friends
for there are few brave enough to
become her enemies believe that she
is unusually virtuous. She calls her
bitter readiness to speak disagreeable
truths by various names, such as can
dor, frankness, honesty and courage.
The fact that she casts poisoned ar
rows right and left, and inficts pains
that lie unhealed for months, even
years, does not enter into her consid-
Grafton. And still worse, her example
is contagious. Other women, timid
women, inspired by her freedom, learn
to speak with disagreeable candor,
and the trouble grows.
If the woman who speaks her mind
will consider for a moment the real
motive that prompts her to the free
use of her mischief making tongue,
she may discover some wholesome and
instructive truths. Does she wound
the faithful minister because she real
ly believes his influence is sensibly
weakening? Does she honestly be-
ieve that she is helping the careful
physician, or other of her numer-
Gus victims? Would or does she as
readily speak agreeable and pleasant
things; and is her heart so overflow
ing with loving kindness that she
longs to right all the wrongs that
come under her observation and SO
increase the sum total of human hap
piness; or is it, rather, qualification
of her vanity to be considered remark
ably keen and penetrating, very as
tute person who can discover and
bring to light facts that would other
wise escape general notice? Ii she
were truly kind of heart, would she
not prefer one, in Biblical fashion, and
shrink from even the possibility of
wounding by giving it publicity?
Instead Of being courageous she is
cowardly. She is not open hearted or
frank in the best sense of the word,
and her brusque, bold manner of MAX
ing disagreeable statements seldom
accomplishes any good result and al
most invariably gives offense. What
woman wishes to become that disa-
greeable creature who els not afraid
to speak her mind?'
If it's sciatica, battle with Johnson's Ano-
dyne Eminent, pressing the muscles and
nerves hard.