The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-06-17
WOMAN SPHERE AND MISSION.
Rev. Or. j. X Roberts Address
Before Graduating Class.
Listen to Words OF Wisdom and Flo
quence From IL Lecturer Eaot Becom-
Ing Famous Throughout the State and
Country.

a
| MEN:-It is with profound gratitude 10
God that enter upon the duties of this
hour. And l want to thank the board
OF trustees, and school as we'll, for the
honor you have deemed proper to be-
stow on me.
Is shall only be my purpose this morn
ing to try, as best can, to drop few
thoughts which will serve as true
| criterion for the graduating class
through life.
During the last fifty years radical
change has been effected in public SEN
timent in regard to wonens work in
the world. 1t Is only within compar-
| atively recent time that colleges and
| the learned professions have been opened
| to her, and thousand occupations
| promise her fair remuneration and an
honorable place in the great catalogue
OF industrial pursuits. This sphere Of
woman's activity is continually widen
ing, and new fields of labor are con-
stantly inviting her to enroll herself in
the great army Of wage winners. In the
| two places-either that OF drudge or
| lady-either to do the most mental and
| dependent service for Il totally made
| quate compensation, or to occupy an
| itoljzed place, whore few superficial
accom- lishments only were allowable,
and any exhibition of \ cultivated intel.
lect would be stignat:zed as aud acious
and manlike 1t is not strange that with
such transition there has come
tendency to the other extreme-to ignore
sex and womanly instincts, and to re-
gard men and women alike as on the
| same plano.
But nature is more powerful than re-
formers, and while it is wise that every
daughter should have the ability to earn
| an honorable and independent liveli :
hood In case OF any emergency, yet 1t is
the Hat OF Providence, nevertheless, that
1t is the destiny OF most women to be-
come wives and mothers, and their
training should recognize this great
fact But we must not forget that wo-
man, when wife and mother, Is not be .
Titled but ennobled, and her influence
vastly enlarged. 1 do not hesitate to
say that the women give to every nation
| moral temperament. The book which,
more than any other of modern times,
aroused public sentiment as to the ma
ture OF great national evil, was writ
ten by woman; much Of it in her
kitchen with her child in her lap-in
snatches between household duties.
And yet Webster and Clay, with all
the fights of their impassioned eloou-
ence, amid listening senates, and ap-
plauding multitudes, never shaped pub.
lie opinion, moved mems souls, or had
as potent an influence in shaping our
future as nation as the story OF Uncle
Toms Cabin"
And its mission did not end there, for
translated into nearly all Languages it
has worked like leaven over nearly the
whole word, to arouse in all nations a
love for justice and universal freedom.
Harriet Beecher Stowe as an orator or
legislator might have been total fail
ure, but the whole world inclined it's
ear to listen to the voice of her womanly
sympathy and pleadings for Justice, as
she spoke out of her own heart and from
her own heartstone.
Tnose women who affect to despise
their womanly instincts and long for
public career generally reap bitter
harvest Of disappointed hopes.
There Is no greater fal]acy than to
| suppose that woman can not be we'll
read, possess broad culture and we'll
disciplined mind, and at the same time
DO capable housewife.
Mary Somerville, who in her day was
the foremost woman of the world in
| scientific attainments, was also an ex-
cellent housekeeper, and one of her
friends thus speaks of her home life:
Her friends loved to take tea at her
house. Everything was in order; the
walls were hung with her fine draw
ing: her music stood in the corner; her
table was spread with good things, and
she herself as ready to play the affable
hostess as though she had never worked
out an astronomical problem"
| Hawthorne has said: ut should be
woman's office to move in tho midst of
practical affairs, and to gid them all,
the worry homeliest it even the
! securing Of pots and kettles,-with an
atmosphere of loveliness and joy"
One OF the greatest needs of women is
more education, not merely of the
schools, but general 1wledge which
will enable them to obtain a broader
view of the world and it's activities.
Surely such training and culture
would make woman better fitted to be
the companion OF her husband, and the
instruction of her children. and whole
horde of petty and frivolous and often
Imaginary cares and annoyances would
b, dispelled. The sphere OF woman is
to preside over the home as its light and
inspiration.
No charms so captivating. no grace so
irresistible, no spirits SO exuberant, no
| wit 80 CHEEKY, no conversation so fascin.
atipg no culture so varied, but can find
in the home fit place for their charms
The modest, unassuming and self
sacrificing mother, who, thank God,
can be recognized in multitudes of
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