The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-10-04
THE GREATNESS OF WOMAN.
Vigorous Defense of Her Sex by
ssMOuntain Pink"

Vigorous Defense of Her Sex by
'1MOuntain Pink"
woman-poor little insignificant thing
she is looked upon by man as some
thing inferior and of little value.
Before the time of Alfred the Great
woman was treated as the slave of man;
she was allowed no privilege whatever.
and was placed on the same level with
animals. The Anglo Saxons were the
first race of people who ever showed any
respect for woman, and even today man
feels himself superior to woman. He
fancies she is not capable of accom-
plishing such great and noble deeds as
himself.
AS a general thing. when one looks
closely into any great crime a woman is
always found at the bottom of it. Then
why not equally true will she not be
found as stimulator of good deeds?
In reading Of the wonderful discoveries
of Columbus we never see his wifes
name mentioned. and perhaps people
would smile il one would say that Amer
lea was really discovered by a woman,
and yet it is true that had it not been
for his wife Columbus would never have
had the ambition to discover anything.
He appealed to different kings and rul
ers for aid but was each time disap-
pointed and ready to give up, but his
wife cheered him TO the very last and
forced him to persevere. When she was
diving she called him to her and told him
that she felt sure that Queen Isabella
would help him and begged him to 90
and ask her assistance.
Columbus fulfilled his wife's last wish
and succeeded in obtaining aid.
1t is true that Columbus discovered
America. but Mrs. Columbus deserves the
honor. for had it not been for her Co
lumbus would have given up in despair.
And likewise the cotton gin would not
have been invented by Mr.. Eli Whitney
had he not been encouraged by woman.
Many women have become famous as
authors. actresses, lawyers and in many
other professions, and have often sur
passed the greatness Of man. But there
are other ways in which woman Is great,
but men seldom see it in that light
Take. for instance, our everyday life;
how could man live without woman?
Who would do his cooking, his wash
ing, his mending and a thusand other
things, were it not for the patient, toll
ing hands of woman?
And when man has failed i'm business,
or is in trouble of any kind, how agree
able IL is TO have woman to share his
sorrow. How pleasant it is to have her
pour words of comfort and encourage
ment into his ear and soothe his aching
heart. And last of all, when man is
sick, had he no one except man to care
for him. and let that man do his best,
yet how the afflicted one would long for
the gentle touch Of woman's fingers upon
his aching forehead or the loving hand
of woman to smoothe his pillow or hold
a cup to his fevered lips. Woman is
capable of accomplishing a great deal.
Even IL she cannot become as famous as
Harriet Beecher Stowe, Christine Nilsson
and others. she can perform many deeds
OF kindness and benevolence and thus
gain an influence over those about her.
and it matters not who, criminal, drunk
ard or whoever 1t may be, IL woman
once gains influence over him by kind
deeds and gentle words, she has the
power to lead him where she desires him
10 go If she goes about IL in the right
way. Perhaps some may not consider
such deeds as these very great, and es-
pecially men, but II is my opinion that
women who perform little deeds of kind
ness are far more worthy of praise than
those who have reached the topmost
round on the ladder Of fame. and though
they wear the laurel wreath, those who
have performed deeds OF kindness will
wear a crown OF diamonds In that day
when He makes up His Jewels" IL IL
a very common thing to hear man boast
Of his strength, and that he can whip
any man that crosses his path" He has
great reverence and respect for men of
strength, but woman, poor, weak woman.
is looked down upon because she Is not
gifted with the strength of man. Al
though woman II not so strong I'm body
as man. she has truer and more affec-
tionate heart. and IL ls marvellous to see
how much her heart can bear without