The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-09-17
THE WHOLE DUTY OF WOMAN


There are about 4 hundred maidens in
this city who promised and vowed yester-
day afternoon never, however alluring the
temptation, to assume the bonds of holy
matrimOny without the full consent of
their parents or guardians. In the pres
ence of large congregation they fore
swore secret courtship, and with pale but
determined faces registered a vow that
would forever forbid any of them from
needing a modern ROmeo's Trust me,
love"
There were tall girls and short ones.
dark and fair. and girls of positive, COM
parative and superative good looks. Some
were not even good looking, but they all
wore pretty summer gowns, and there was
not one who was not in her first youth.
Are there any more unmarried women
here?" cried DR.. S. NJ. Martin, glancing
round the West Side Church, at the corner
OF Bush and Devisadero streets, which
was crowded 10 the very sidewalk with
women. Are there any more who Can
make this pI-dge?"
Every one glanced at every one else,
but 10 more girls rose to their feet; so the
doctor told those whn had already PROM
sed and bound that they might sit down,
not, however until he had pointed n
moral by describing the narrow escape of
girl who had made just such a vow, and
had thereby been saved from the dire "a
lamity Of secretly wedding a gay de-
ceiver who was afterWard found TO have
a wife aud family in the East
1t was inst at the conclusion of his SER
mon on Personal Habits and Society
Conduct of Women" (for women only)
that DIR. Martin had asked Tor the vow,
which, he had assured his hearers. older
DeOule could tell them was a wise promise.
In the course of his discourse ne had al
most summed up the entire duty of woman
from manlcurlng her nails to the fulfill
ment nf the highest moral and spiritual
obligations. Cosmetics were the first
snare t1at fell under the doctors ban.
SOaD and water. he assured his hearers,
w ere much more marvellous for the COM
peXion."
The preacher next regretted the fact
that he had met ladies and gentlemen on
the mature side of life VINO had no recol-
lection of ever having taken an entire
bath. They were AS much afraid of water
as il it had been death and destruction"
These imper ect abluiiOnistS were ex-
horted to make themselves familiar with
the bathtub, though the preacher did not
stata that any Of them were actually
present.
The care of fngernails and teeth was
next dwelt upon, although cOloring matter
for the hnger-JipS was nor advocated.
Some ladies'" observed the doctor, re-
gretfully, 'only attend 10 their teeth by
chewing gum. They do not use a tooth
brush and do not employ the services
OF dentist. l do not condemn
wholesale the habit of chewing gum, but
do hold that no thoroughly refined lady,
with proper respect for others, will go out
on the street chewing gum Some of YOU
may have done this, and perhaps mold that
you are as good lady as any one else.
Well 50 you are-eXceOt 10 this respect.
There are cranks on the subject of
slang. Many of the best expressions we
have to-day were slang yesterday. When
ever there Is a little touch OF coarseness or
vuIgarity in an expression then it is TO he
condemned. There are some ladies who
actually use language that is prrofane. and
no lady can afford to do that. The person
who is always around simperiUg and
blushing when there is nothing to blush
for is afflicted with false modesty. That 1
mold to be contemDtible. 1t is generally
the expression OF an impure mind"
The subjects of amusements and of fir
taliOn were then touched upon and trashy,
sensational literature was strongly con-
demned. ''Y Dung ladies who have young
gentlemen 10 take them to the theater
think that's Just lovely. 'Charley's 10 the
swim, you know. and always takes me to
see everything. That's very nice when
Charley is your sweetheart. but when
Charley is your husband he will perhaps
leave you at home with the children,
You'll be WORKOUT old thing ana he'll
take someone else to the theater. The
best thing you can do is to see to Char
ley'S habits now"
OF the subjects OF love and marriage. the
preacher said there was nothing more
Godgiving. but no urged his girl-hearers
never to bestow their affections upon
unworthy objects Indeed he showed a
somewhat remarkable tendency to speak
of wOmen'S hearts as if they were objects
that could be handed over or were sent by
express to anyone warranted neither to
break nor lnjure them. 1t did not seem to
dawn upon DR.. Martin that hearts, like
facts are stubborn things. Don't make
your affections too cheap" he urged.
Some girls seem to think that their high
est mission is to eat and sleep and giggla
and chew gum ard get married.
"In getting married women are begi n
ming to find out that they have so often to
take care OF their husbands that they are
getting more careful in their matrimonial
ventures
women can feel so independent that they
have not to marry to get something 10 eas
and wear. and roof to cover them"
Then the great subject of the address,
"Marry Only With the Consent of Your
Parents" was touched upon. The doctor
drew such picture of the awful record of
ill-sdvsed marriages, he gave such pathetic
aud realistic instances of girls whose
whole lives had been blighted by one act
of folly, that some responsive chord was
touched in the hearts of many of mis- hear
ers, and there were women who undis-
guisedly sobbed aloud. Then seiZing the
opportunity he exclaimed. make this
pledge to me- and before your God that
you will not marry without the consent of
your parents or guardians and all over
the church young girls rose to their feet
and sienfied their wish to make the vow.
NAV God help you, for older ones can
tell you that it is a wise PROMISE" said DR..
Marli1 sOlemnly before he pronounced the
henediction.
RrickS fnr SoIo