The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-10-13

courage 70 exercise his right OF refusing,
instead o, waiting 70 be refused.
NOW DO not claim. OF course, that this
''yirago % the BRAIN this representative
OF ''the third sex Ito quote Mr.. lie Ca
lienrel. is the IDEAL woman OF Scandinavia.
stils less that she would make an IDEAL
wife. But she has. for all OF that, 70 De
taken into account, because she is. by her
presence and her noisy propaganda. visibiy
modifying the old IDEAL OF Scandinavian
wifehood and womanhocd-
In my student days we used 70 sing with
immense enthusiasm the song. The Won
en- OF the North" which among other eN-
p5oded commonplace. declared that the
lily resembles the bride OF thy heart. the
fair Northern maiden" and that she
stands uDaltered. exhsling her coy fra
fyrance: she is the blossom % blossoms"
Though this standard comparison with the
lily has been regulated as misleading and
1Incomplimentary. Il has not yet lost and
never can quite lose It's application. For
the qualities which the man demands the
woman n bound 20 supply. or feign their
possession. under penalty OF cei.hacy. And
scandinavian man does not differ essential
~ from the male OF other Civilized raoes
IN demanding Il his wife al the standard
copybo0k virtues. He looks up 20 her pri-
marty 70 uphold the dignity OF his house.
20 give. BY her presence and manner. a
certain eciat 20 his hospitality; 20 make
HIS domestic machinery run as smoothly.
noiselessiy. and economically as circum-
stances viii permit. He associates with
his vision OF her certain sweet matron-
illness which grows more pronounced with
the years. as the children gather about her
knees. Though the girl be ever 50 coy
and submissive 70 her lovers wishes. he
knows that IL Is In the nature Of things
for the young wife 20 develop. through the
experiences OF wtfehood and motherhood.
personality which must rot only win love.
but also command respect. AS his true
comrade and faithful friend she stands at
his side, shares his burden. and bears with
him the brunt OF the hard battle OF life.
When I look back through the long gal
iery OF noble Scandinavian women whose
portraits my memory retains. the embar-
rassment Of riches makes me loath
20 choose. One, however, whose
beautiful personality spread a quiet radi-
ance about her simple life I may. without
invidious comparisons, select as fairly re-
preventative. and the man OF whose home
she was the bright and shining focus
would have been the first 70 claim for her
every Ideal perfection. II has always been
a marvel 20 me how this mother Of six
children, every one Of whom claimed her
attention and care could yet preside with
"A calm and gentle dignity at the great din
ners which her husbands position COM
PEELED him 10 give, superintend n large
household. over every minutest detail OF
which she kept supervision: and yet pre-
serve. amid innumerable harassments.
which would have driven a man to dis
traction, a benign, unruffied amis bility,
and an unfaIling helpfulness which ever
gave and gave. without thought OF de-
handing anything in return. From the
early morn 10 the dewy eve she was IT.
ceaseless activity: never GREATNESS and
hurried. but always quietly mlnistering 10
the wants Of the many whose welfare was
foresight, sagacity and tender solicitude.
At o'clock in the morning she presided
at the breakfast table. pouring the hot
tea for boys. while snowdrift and darkness
lay thick upon the windowpanes; and I
can yet see her benign. somewhat worn
face in the lampl,ght over the large cop
per tea kettle. Then she would remind
them Of their books, so that nothing was
forgotten. wrap them up warmly in their
scarfs and overcoats. kiss each one good
bye. with a dear little maternal admoal-
ton on the way: then get papa's breakfast.
which came later, and listen sympathet-
caily 10 his grumbling about the ever
increasing expenses. calm his Occasional
irritRbillty. invent ingenlously n sternai
excuses for Firms low averages. Bertha's
hcydenish behavior. Olafs habit OF tear
Ing his clothes, etc. There was balm in
her words healing in her touch, solace in
thu very cadence of her voice. Though
she left no record behind her. except in
the hearts Of her sons and daughters, who
mourned her early loss. / cannot conceive
OF nohler life than hers. nor one d!speus-
ing a richer blessing.