The Helena independent., 1894-01-01

smile that now and again passes across
| and illumines tho countenance. The
| glory Of her face lies In her eyes. These
are large, gray. lustrous, pathetic IN
their softness and seriousness. Her
hands are dimply, white and infantile.
One ring, a huge sapphire of deepest
hue. set between two large diamonds Of
lin,pid purity. is their only ornament.
AZ little restless clasping Of them at
ties just hints nervousness under ex-
cIllent control.
Conversation turned upon the salient
features of the late campaign, and the
little maid Of millions spoke mp ear
nestly. thoughtfnlly and valiantly upon
women and the ballot. in words that
should be carried to her sisterhood Of
taxpayers, to the wives and mothers
who desire the protection of their own
and their children's interests by per-
sonal representation, to the women OF
thought and action who by their pens
and deeds have thrown down the bar
riers and opened highways to profess
sional life, as we'll as to the feminine
industrial classes upon whom have de-
volved the duties of breadwinners, me-
cessity created through misfortune,
atiiiction, neglect or inability upon the
part Of husbands and fathers to provide
them with the physical comforts and
requirements of life.
II think, said Helen Gould quietly,
land am expressing as well the con-
victions of my father, for we were thor
oughly in consonance upon this subject,
that it is unreasonable and unjust that
women should not be endowed with the
full rights of a citizen, which include
the ballot. When women in SO many
and widely differing spheres of life ard
labor are giving such remarkable evil
dences Of mind, skill and ability, how
can their claims to consideration be SO
disregarded that they are deprived of
the legal recognition that is denied
only to prisoners, traitors, idiots, China
men or Indians among menu
but what effect would it have upon
woman to be accorded right at the
polls?" was inquired.
''The tendency would be" she an
swered warmly, to dignity and elevate
her. 1t would broaden her intelligence
and increase her sense Of response bility.
There is no reason why an understand
ing of politics should make woman
masculine in hel manners or conduct.
No mother is less devoted because she
knows Latin and Greek. Children are
more carefully guarded against posi-
BILE ills, since women understand sani-
tation and hygienic law. Every house.
wife employs care and watchfulness to
see they are not neglected and returns
to her embroidery with a sense Of secur-
ity. No amount Of cultivation and
activity need make her less womanly.
Why should an understanding of the
policies of government work greater
change, than an intelligent comprehen-
sion Of various other subjects?''
It was remarked that so few women
had any knowledge Of politics, where
upon Miss Gould resumed half medi-
tatively:
IF women are accorded rights that
will create direct personal interest in
political measures, more of them will
study the subject and prepare them
selves to form opinions and take an ac-
tive palt. The majority of women have
infinitely more leisure than men, and
that affords them opportunity to give
the topic and all its details much closer