The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-05-21

IL Stephenson has teen c0nsente1 Win
the ancient modes Of carrying people nod
merchandise overland. he never would
have invented the locomotive II MORSE
had been con,enfed with he Old vehicles
for the transmission OF news. be never
would have troubled himself about the
telegraph. II Ellison had been contented
with the telegraph - Morse len II. he
would not have earned 70. himself the So
briqnes of the Wizard while astounding
the world with the possibilities oil eiec-
trscisy.
: But j. would trespass too much on your
time and patience 10 enumera,e half the
wonders wrought by discomfort within
the memory of more han ~ Of my hear
ers this evening.
II is not in the field Of mechanical in
vention alone that the spirit of discomfort
is seen. The most distinguished men OF
the present century in our country. not to
mention many OF earlier periods, achieved
greatness through discomfort Discon-
tent and unhappy in obscure country
homes. they we're stimulated to efforts
which n spirit Of conieutment never would
have suggested. with the result OF acQnir-
ing worldwide fame. OF such were
Daniel Webster. Horace Greeley. Abraham
Lincoln. James q. Blaine, and others
whose names are recorded in history. II
they had inherited contentnsest from their
fathers they would have remained p.ow-
men and rail-splitters all their days.
The boy who is Disconnected with his
position at the too. Of n class will sooner
or later reach the head. and ultimately
become the brightest pupil in the schools.
Ii nature has not endowed him with ac-
GuisItive or Ye:entIye faculties equal to
those of his schooimates. ne will tone for
natures niggardliness by closer applica-
ton and harder study. U~ndismayed by
disheartening obstacles and inspired by u
landable ambition he exclaIms: II will
attain the place / aspire to-" And de-
spite the disadvantages under which he
iabors he generally gets there. The con-
tented and indoien: boy ~tcontsntment and
Incidence usually go hand-in-handl on
of all this iabor Of the brain and se!f-de-
MIA? III have none of it," He grows
UP a biockhead and becomes q .'hewer Of
wood and drawer of water" for the dis
contented and ambitious boy. Thus it Is
seen that the highest aud nOblest asplra-
tons are the offspring of discomfort.
Herein lies the secret of the success in
life OF 50 many people of humble origin ;
they have a greater incentive to exertion
than those born rich.
Perhaps the most disconnected man OF
his time was Christopher Columbus. You
are all familiar with his trials and dis
couragemenss: therefore it is aimee ssary
10 give them here. IL is enough TO know
that he was not coniented with the knowl-
edge possessed by navigators and geo.
.graphers in his day. and his discomfort
led to the discovery OF 4 new world, an
event now being commemorated by the
grandest spectacle the world ever wit.
messed.
Fifty years ago one of the questions dis
c,issea by journalists and others was.
What shalt We do with our surplus
women and girls?" Manufacturing and
other towns iii the Old World and the
New. were overlooking with girls for
whom there was no possible chance of OBJ
tanning mates. All of the New England
states showed by their census returns that
the women largely outnumbered the men.
The discussion had a salutary effect. 1t
spread the ieaven OF discomfort among the
women until they determined to solve the
problem by charging the sphere of their
voeations. Prior &c. this time there were
only five or six occupations that were open
principal of which were factory work and
house service. Now there are twenty or
more different trades and professions open
to them, many of which were undre AIMED
of By women fifty years ago. The thou
sands OF women nov happily engaged in
occu pations outside the limited sphere
formerly allotted them clearly proves that
tHfy IldSc hlacty SOtNCu tuc UEODiei1,
What shall we do with our surplus
women?" Its solution is due entirely to
discomfort. Ii they had been contented
with their humble, dependent lot. this
probably have been an embarraSs-
ing question today.
Certain ambitious young women Of this
country, not contenied with the facilities
afforded by the seminaries to which they
we're eligible. sought admission to the
i'm ItfepfinnS nf faovntpS in Ettraru
and America. No woman had ever been
admitted as q pupil to these universities.
For years they knocked at the doors of
these institutions II appealed in vain for
the educational advantages they afforded.
At length their patience and persistence
were rewarded. A few were admitted to
these exclusive colleges. What was the
result? In every instance their success
more than justified their faith. Every
thesis submitted by them has been u sur
prise and q vindication. Young men Of
more than average promise. confident Of
their gifts anu requirements, have been
surpassed by these young women. Morti-
flying as the result. has been on the one
side. il cannot but prove profitable TO both
sexes. by stimulating the one and en-
couragIng the other.
From the earliest ages Of the world wo-
men have been regarded as mentally and
physically inferior TO men. II was re-
served for the women OF the present CEN
tury 10 demonstrate the faliacy Of this
view. In The light which this century has
cast upon their pathway they find that
they are as susceptible OF cultivation and
Improvement AS the men. The discovery
mas stimulated their discomfort and their
ambition; they now aspire to places rs ex-
allied as any held by men, whom they nave
proved not intellectually their superiors.
They are 10 tie commended for IL. Since
dudes came into fashion and young men
have grown eifeminate. il is gratifying to
know that sensible and riChtlminded NO.
men are ready 10 take their places: other
wise the wheels of progress might stop for
want OF men to Keep them revolving. In
der the leadership and guidance OF such
queenly women as Mrs. Potter Palmer.
Mrs. Caay Stanton. Miss Frances Willard.
susan II. Anthony and other equally
courageous spirits. their emancipation, as
vet only partial. bids fair SCOT 10 become
compiete and universal. When that time
arrives the lords Of creation will be CON-
PEELED Ia acknowledge tha, the weaker sex
are net only their peers in intellect. but
taeiT equals in every quality tina; enno3.es
humanity.
tontenfed people contribute nothing TO
the growth or prosperity of the community
in which they live. They don't begiev. IN
progress OF DEVELOPMENT. Their tavoritc
maxim Is, Lee Well enough alone \
ies Of the early settlers az this state were
OF this character. They have stnce died
and were never missed. They leis no S!sn
that they had ever lived. ihtrty-ave
years ago ] heard several ri them EXPRESS
ihe hope that ~ more white people wonla
ever come here. They were contenfe.i
stta sheir isolation; contentci with the
absence NJ society, mental culture. refine
inent, everything 81 an e~ieyaIing tend
eucy.
i.aeored efforts have been and are being