Middletown transcript., 1894-06-02

been reading that hateful thing, and
Pm more disgusted than ever with
manish women. Why in the world
cant a woman be content to be wo-
mana womanly womanf Every
paper you pick up has an article in it
about the independence of the women
of the present day,their equality with
men as business managers, bread win
ners, holding positions heretofore held
by men only; asserting themselves as
strong minded women, and"
"Why, you astonish me! You are
always boasting of your independent
spilit, and you know you were de-
lighted with Dorathy Maddax/s ar
ticles on Bachelors Girls"
"Yes, know, and that's another
thing I don't like. At frst it seemed
rather nice, but I just hate it now.
After all, I think it was their cosy way
of fixing and contriving their room
and their way of living l liked. AS
to being independent, that's all right.
One must be to have any self respect
but you need't be manish in order to
be independent. Pm enough So"
'Manish?"
"I do wish you'd not be SO outrage
ously exasperating Prue. You know
well enough what I mean. I'm in
dependent enough to do things some
people with a significant look at
Prue) won't, and so long as 1 know it is
nothing really odd or wrong, I intend
to. You wouldn't carry a broom or
basket or bundle up from Crawford's.
"No."
"Well, will every time as the boys
say, but I won't be called bachelor
girl. Batchlor girl! What sarcasm
How could girl be bachelor I'd
like to know? The title distinctly and
distinctive by mannish quite as much
as Man. Spell it big, please, with
capitals. The dear creatures! So
nice, the women want to borrow from
them, even a part of their title. It's
enough to turn decent, ,Irepectable
woman, girl or old maid, (there! that's
the word for me she said decidedly
into man-hater."
81 say, what's the row." inquired
Sam as he came into the room and
assumed comfortable position in the
big rocker beside Prue who smiled as
she replied:
Q Is been reading Maria Corelli's
My Wonderful Wife, and is quite in
dignant that any woman should or
could be supposed to be such an one.
just think Sam, she has almost made
up her mind to become man hater!"
"Phew!" calculated Sam. "Poor
Noel, I presume I'll have to break
that sad piece of news to him." look
ing into the glowing heart of the fire
meditatively.
Nell's cheeks were glowing, too, by
this time, like the heart of a red, red
rose, and her bright eyes sparkled, but
she made no reply as she crossed the
room and picking up the obnoxious
book returned to her seat by the win:
dow. Turning over the leaves. for a
moment she paused saying, "Just
listen a moment. She flicked of the
ash from her weed with her little
finger, settled her smoking cap.' lido
you hear7 smoking cap! a womanD and
smiled a superior smile. Not a bit of
it, she replied. Once, in those de-
testable good old times some people
are always talking about, men were
permitted to keep women out of
every sort of enjoyment, and nice
tyrants they were! We are no longer
the drudges, hosekeepers, general
servants and nurses that adorned that
by gone age of darkness! We are the
equals of man. What he can do we
can do as we'll, and often better"
Nell threw the book down again
Saying, "She calls her husband old
boy and 'old fellow and says such a
lot of mannish stuff! Now listen to
this" as she rummaged among the
books and papers on the broad win
dow ledge, finally producing news
paper clipping. cat this present
time when the social question Of
woman's place among the country IS
workers and leaders is being SO active
ly agitated, one is led to earnestly in
quire, "where is the true sphere of
woman's greatest influence, and is it
in public life that she shall seek pro-
minence?"
Women have at times held places
in the ranks of the worlds great
leaders. One Joan of Arc lends a
romantic interest to the history of
Mars, one Madame de Stael to the
story of social leadership, at pecu-
liar time in the history of France.
Queen Elizabeth, with masculine
powers exhibits on England's throne a
brilliant reign. Woman's pen has
at times proved mightier than the
sword in knocking off the black mans
chains, and women we're queens at
Rome and Italy when England had
hardly emerged from barbarism.
These, however, are exceptional
cases. Woman's noblest leadership is
in her home. Her influence there is
silent and powerful as the sunlight
and dew; her sphere is full of sublime
and wondrous power, men yield to
her weakness what they would not
grant to their own strength. When
Corialanus threatened Rome's des-
truction, twas not the skill of her
statesmen, not the prayers of her
priests, nor the steel of her soldiers
that saved the city, but the mighty
conquering force of woman's plead
ing. Yes, woman holds in her hands
the worlds destiny; for all great and
good men are what the mother, the
wife and the home make them