The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1893-02-02


are predestined to marry and enter
unon the monotonous career OF Keep
ing house for somebody just as soon as
they have completed certain course
of study, and that generally very
limited ore. The fact is, the greater,
number of "sweet girl graduates"
know as little, or even less, ABOUT Ine
duties of wife and housekeeper as any
of their masculine friends.
1t is not hard to see the totly OF sucii
a method of training, but 1t Is dllhculU
in the extreme to secure lts DANISH
ment from the system OF culture thaC
is considered almost perfect. Yet IL
lies within our power to do a great
deal in this direction, not only by aq
vancing excellent theories and forclble
arguments, but by making our lives
opvincing proofs of their value and
tenability. This ought not to be hard
to do, for the opportunities are very
numerous of entering upon some work
flat will bring honor and success
But it is needless to dwell upon the
RAPIDLY multiplying avenues OF labor
now open to women, for alter all IL Is
not the work one undertakes that
enables one to attain excellence, but
the way in which it is undertaken.
A bright, happy girl, filled with en-
ergy and ambition, and whose goodly
allowance of common sense has been
improved and increased by a care
fully arranged system OF Gull
ture-such a girl has unlim
tied possibilities. She can accomplish
with more than ordinary success, al
most anything she will undertake.
Whole-souled energy and undivided
attention are ever essentials for at
taining excellence and no amount Of
listlees, half-hearted endeavor will
produce any important results. l am
glad this nOnsese concerning the weak,
clinging, helpless, and may add, rest
less, woman, is fast losing itself IN the
atmosphere of reason and good sense,
and that she is rapidly becoming a
dream of the past, whenever found, a
universally acknowledged nuisance.
Too many girls are not Interested IN
their work, whatever it may be, be-
cause they look upon it as only a
bridge over the break between their
school days and their married lives.
This has always been a great objection
urged against their taking the plac. S
of young men, in suitable positions,
for to the latter, marriage is rot sup,
posed to bring immunity from labor.
But you say, these independent,
self-sustaining women rarely ever
marry, There you are mistaken, Yet
they do not marry young. Not That
it is any disgrace to belong to those
much derided ranks whose members
are said to keep a large supply OF
feline pets, and call every young per-
SOD, my dear child" 1t is
often an honor, but whenever a
good sensible woman remains
single, it is from choice, not
necessity. The men also are getting
more sensible-they seek as wives
those women who can be their help
mate, not shadows" nor yet slaves
They are beginning to more fully APP
preCiate the power of "earth's noblest
thing, a woman perfected In his
Lilies" Ruskin says most truly;
"She must be enduringly, incorrupti-
bly, good; instinctively, infallibly wise
wise, not for self-development, but
for self-renunciation wise, not that
she may set herself above her hus-
band, but that she may never fail
from his side" We cannot help but
see that woman's place in the world is
not secondary, but co-equal with that
of man, through the great influence she
exerts over his life. Ruskin says men
are "Obedient, not merely enthusiastic
and worshipping in Imagination, but
entirely subject, receiving from the
beloved woman, however young, not
only the encouragement, the praise
and the reward of all toll, but so far
as any choice is open, or any question
difficult of decision, the direction OF
all toll" And again, THAT the first
and necessary impulse of every truly
taught and knightly heart is this OF
blind service to its body; that where
that true faith and captivity are not,
all hayward and wicked passions
must be, and that in this single ODE
dience TO the love of his youth is the
sanctification of all mans strength
and the continuance of all his pur
poses" Then is it not of the greatest
Importance that these co-rulers of oul
country be something besides rattle
Drained flirts and chatter boxes?
Girls, let us endeavor to discover
what we are best fitted for aud Their
improve every opportunity to make
ourselves useful and hOnOred women
Let each one of us employ her talents
to the best possible advantage, that IL
the end it may be said: MANY
daughters have done eXcellently, but
thou excellest them all.
N~S