The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-04-20

1t is often said that one-half of the
world does not know how dependent
it is on the other half, nor how much
each learns from the other. Life is
SO constituted that cooperation is
necessary to keep life. Each part of
the body is dependent upon the other,
and in the same way each part of the
worlds great life is dependent upon
the others. Womanhood, as we'll as
manhood, illustrates this. Positions,
opportunities, obligations differ, but
all are interlaced, and with or with
out desire or knowledge, the many
need the many, the individual the in
dividual. Religious sisterhoods in
these days are being multiplied, but
the greatest sisterhood of all, l,-wo-
manhood-stands now as it has al
ways stood, unity. Few realize
this; the young girls and women are
divided; one looks down and patron
ICES the other, because she does not
know all the other knows, or has not
the same opportunities at home.
Even in the same store or factory it
is common to find one set looking
askance at another group, because
their work is not as profitable, or the
brains required by the one are not
needed by the other. Or else the
girls who come in to buy, scarcely
notice those behind the counter, and
perhaps these look with envy and
bitterness at the purchasers.
Again, at school or college, instinc-
lively there is sense of separation
among the students from the 9th er
girls in the town or city, who have
not their advantages for education.
All this is natural. Acquaintance
ship is the stepstone to friendship
and this must come before sisterliness
is developed. Women and girls
must learn to know each other. Now
there is too much of suspicion and
misunderstanding. This must be
overcome. What girl or woman is
must be the watchword, not what
she wears or does. The busy worker
in the store or mill often possesses
qualities, rarely given the so-called
society girl or woman of leisure.
They are trained in public schools,
imbued with spirit of personal lib
erty and independence. The whole
some righteousness of their minds,
their grasp of honesty and truth,
their hatred Of hypocrisy and spirit
of self-giving and sharing are full of
grand lessons. With them it is nat
ural; it is life to do. They do not
talk about their charities, the money
they give, the hours spent for others.
With them there is no desire for
thanks, no thought of patronage, no
question: Is itappreciated? Simply,
it is duty, we can do nothing else!
There are of course among them the
frivolous and gay girls, those who do
not think ahead, but even they
are capable of feats of heroism lit
tie dreamed of by more sheltered
ones. Outward appearances form a
poor basis for judgment of character.
This Judging from the outside or from
appearance has been one of the rea-
sons why in the past there has been
SO little working with or cooperation
in our movement for the betterment
of girlhood. Ladies in parlors have
talked about how they could help the
girls, and the girls have misunder-
stood and not appreciated what was
planned for them, because the loving
personal touch had not been added.
In what social or moral movement
for girls could not those to be benefi-
ciaries have share in the work? per-
haps not always in the executive
headship, but surely in the delibera-
tions and councils. With this shar-
ing, there will come understandings
To illustrate: A woman of wealth
who had had the pleasure of cooper
ating with her wage-earnlng sisters,
was addressing a group of them en-
ploYed in a certain factory. AS she
was speaking, one of those present
whispered to her neighbor, "Oh, she
is only doing this for effect; she likes
to patronize, to show herself off by
talking So" Later on this same girl
associated herself with a number of
companions and two or three women
of wealth for a common end, the
same as urged that evening. She
learned to know these two or three
and to admire them. In true humility
she came to her neighbor of the first
night and said, 81 understand Miss
H., now; l believe in her and honor
her. / take back all l said"
A heautiful Rocietv oirl. aftarward