The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-07-26

The woman Of the present must be a
woman of affairs. 1t is no longer suf-
ficient that her children shall be we'll
taught and well bred; that her house
shall be well ordered and her social OBJ
legations discharged in full. The world
still exacts fidelity to all the domestic
relations. and it demands much more
There is an unvoiced sentiment to the
effect that now, since the universities
and colleges have opened their doors to
give young girls thorough intellectual
training, they must apply that training
not alone within the home, but without
in the state. The new conditions have
produced new ype, and it is a type
that writes, talks and makes speeches
with no detriment to its dignity or its
womanliness.
Instead of reproaching this so-caTed
emancipated woman, fathers, husbands
and brothers commend her position, in
dorse her opinions and stand by her
with all the old time chivalry which we
were assured would be withheld when
women were no longer intellectually and
financially dependent. One OF the most
delightful features of the congresses that
have been held thus far in the series
proposed during the summer and autumn
has been the approval of men who have
attended the sessions to applaud as
auulIO1S, Talk 1t all over afterWard and
marvel at the progress of the world.
Many have urged their wives to 'let
things go at home a little" and attend
the meetings, the like of which will not
be enjoyed soon again. There have not
been. as might have been expected, COM
plants of neglected socks and UNDERGONE
dinners, of household affairs going awry
and children suffering from lack Of ma
ternal oversight.
The husbands and fathers have been
content with little laxity in the domes-
tic government for the sake of the
mental broadening which they knew
would result. As auditors, they have
listened patiently to dull papers and
have enthusiastically applauded the
bright ones, congraJulating the speakers
afterward. They have generally ad-
mitted the excellence of that which was
good and condoned the faults of that
which was mediocre or poor There
have been instances where the husbands
urged the reluctant wives TO take some
more active part in the proceedings,
feeling a proud certainty that their bet
ter halves were equal to the occasion,
whatever it might be.
AS for the women. it has been an i'm
measurable advantage to them. They
have learned self-control composure and
Difference to others and have realized
that the success Of one is the success
of all.
The social features of the congresses
have also had their advantages. Some
of the beautiful houses OF Chicago have
been thrown open with generous hos
pitality, and the country delegates have
had an opportunity to study their art
treasures, to meet polished and gracious
women of the world upon common
ground. 1t has been an occasion of
mutual benefit--tilOse whose opportuni-
ties have been more liberal learning to
respect that worth which comes to the
social function in a plain gown and
palmer bonnet, brains and good breed
ing winning recognition that mere
money cannot command among cult
waited people.
1t is hardly possible to estimate the
far-reaching result of these conferences
The women OF the cities learn, as they
could not possibly learn in any other
way, that a metropolis does not neces-
sarily absorb all knowledge, refinement
and intellectual grace, while their coun-
try sisters perceive that courtesy, kind
ness and consideration are not indigen-
Gus to rural communities, but that they
thrive as we'll amid the bricks and NOR
tar of the town.
Last of all, the congresses will furnish
an immense amount of material for con-
versation and thought. They will sug-
gest new lines of study, and the impetus
they will give to universal culture can
not be reckoned. In the latter particu-
lar the congresses will not be eXcelled
even by the great material exhibit in
Jackson park.-Chicago Inter Ocean.