Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1893-01-12

WORK OF SINGLE WOMEN.
Their Many Successes Have Given Encour-
agement to Others of Their Sex.

Thelr Many successes have GiVen Encour-
agement to Others of Their Sex.
The highest possible encouragement
to success is the example of the success
full In no department Of biographical
1iteratureis there more abundant cause
for inspiration and enthusiasm to wom-
en- than in that devoted to the brave
deeds and painstaking labors of their
own SEX To read over the names of
noted single women is sufficient to
arouse any soul which is conscious of
undeveloped power, and stir to action
dormant talent.
In long list of such honored names
the difficulty lies In making choice of
those most worthy of notice, There is
one name which every American boy
and girl, with thousands of other ma
tions, has long since learned to love.
But not because Miss Louisa Alcott
wrote Little Women, and all little and
big women have laughed and cried over
its pages, is her name an inspiration to
effort. The story of her life, as written
by Mrs. Cheney, is far more eloquent
and fascinating than any of her bright
stories Because of her brave battle
with poverty and adverse fate, her de-
votion TO parents and sisters, her touch
ing sacrifice of her own tastes and
wishes that the beloved Meg" Beth, !"
"Amy," or the beloved "Marmee" might
have treat, and the silent, uncom-
complaining life in which 50 much men
tai and physical pain was hidden-these
weave the charm which binds the
hearts of the multitude, and especially
of womankind, to Louisa Alcott. Her
life is story which every single wom-
an especially should read for the inspir-
alton that breathes from every chapter
Miss Alcott did not dash gloriously into
fame at single effort, as Minerva APP
peared, fully equipped, from the head
of Jove. We read of the petty sums Of
fered for her first stories, of the courage
with which she toiled as cook and
laundress, yet always faithfully, and
how, in spite of hard work, fileagre
support, and the temporary crushing
out of cherished ideals, she accepted her
fate, and never shrank from the burden
of supporting the family at home until
the weary hand cold no longer hold the
pen. AS daughter and sister she first
excelled. The day of her fame was
more bright and sunny because she had
first won success in the homely house
hold cares and learned the principles
which made success in other lines pos
sible.
In the world of science OF our own
Maria Mitchell is worthy of mention
beside Caroline Herschel, the famous
astronomer, the gifted sister of a gifted
brother. The fact that scientific re-
search demands ceaseless observation
and close logical thought deters many
from following in this path. "Ad as
tra," in its literal sense, is difficult
motto, but Miss Herschel, gentle,
delicate, modest little German woman,
and Maria Mitchell, the bright Nam
tucket girl, each of whom first became
known by the discovery of a comet,
solved many difficult astronomical
problems, made valuable discoveries,
lived to advanced age, Miss Herschcl
dying at the age of ninety-eight, and
both lived singularly happy, enthusi-
astic lives, devoted to science, and yet
not forgetful of womanly virtues.
''Born of only ordinary capacity, but OF
extraordinary persistency," says Miss
Mitchell of herself, II did not quite
take this to myself until came to min.
gle with the best girls of our college,
and to be aware how rich their mines
are, and how little they have been
worked"
Florence Nightingale, Dorothca Dix
and Sister Dora were not more brave
nor more truly devoted to the cause ot
suffering humanity, than are Thousand;
of their sisters all over the world. But
to the record of their unselfish lives anc
beautiful character the world is indebt
cd for the success of thousands Of Other
nurses, prison reformcrs, and philan
thropists of every name. Had any o
these women followed the usual lot o
woman, and in some sheltered hom'
worked out the problem, the swee
problem of family life, their success
would, no doubt have been as sure ant
rs blessed, but the world would havi
missed the heart-stirring example
which have helped many woman
since, and nerved her hands to nob
deeds In every time of war or pest
lence or special need some Florenc
Nightingale. another Sister Dora,
found equal 20 the emergency, and MGR
easily found because these have live
and wrought And the single woman