The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1895-06-19
Marion Harland.

Being the mother of six children and
five times Il grandmother said Marion
Harland, otherwise Mrs. Mary Virginia
Tcrhunc looking as though she were actu
ally proud of the fact mentioned, "it
might be better for me to talk of the old
woman exclusively and leave the new
woman in other hands"
Like the good Amelia county Nirginian
that she is, Ms. Terhune had come into
the parlors where her visitors awaited her
with cordial smile of welcome on her
fine face, framed in with silvcry hair and
with outstrrtchrd hand and frank and
friendly voice made them at home at once
Then she frontcd her intcrviewcrs with an
intrepid smile and talked with them for
an hour, regardless of the fact that a
luncheon engagement and an afternoon
lecture still remained to he disposed of be-
fore her day was ended.
"What do | think of the voting woman
and the woman who insists on doing man 5
work in mans wayS" she said well !
asked question 30 years ago which has
not been answered yet. Who is going to
stay home and take care of the children if
the women do these thingsY'
Then she laughed and added: II have
more time to discuss these matters now
than ever had in my life before. When
my children were growing up, | staid at
.. .., ana attended to them. 1t is true ]
.Jd 4 great deal of literary work then, but
did il with one foot on the rocker Cf II
cradle right IN the room where my chil.
dnl wee and with my household d. les
ulWU". ON nay rind. And ii was not IN.
til nus children We're educated and fully
gi)Wn Tat | began to 90 about as much
~ Lave done of late years. Now, when |
am so much nearer 80 than 80 that | will
not tell YOU my exact age, | can lean back
and take II perspective view of the situa-
ton. and the cid and new woman are fig
urcS in it.
Yes, have known pronounced types
of the advanced woman, the woman who
wants to go into politics, the woman who
rides a bicycle, the woman who wears
boomers. | have nothing to say against
the one who rides bicycle but l cannot
approve of the woman politician and the
bloomer. Has man any rights that these
women feel bound to recognize? Well,
that's exactly the question my husband
asked me once, and could not tell him
that he was secure in anything they might
see fit to want, but / think nevertheless
that nature has attended to all this and
given the two sexes their respective fields
that they make fine team, man and
woman. Then why should one wish to do
the others work. And as for woman S
privileges as compared with mans, why,
just think of this: can go any day and
contract debts amounting to so, 600, and
the last stick above my husbands head
could be sold to pay these debts. Yet |
could not be made responsible for 81 that
he might owel And, if | wished, l need
not so much as mention his name in my
will, while he, poor mani could no more
deprive me of at least my widows share
In his estate than he could fly. | merely
give this illustration to intimate generally
that woman Is not in such IL dreadfully
imposed upon position even when she re.
mains in her own sphere
II am opposed to woman suffrage be
cause do not believe that it is the remedy
for the existing disease. We all know that
there is Il disease in the body polite, but
giving the ballot to women will not cure
1t. For every good Woman's vote there
would be ten bad or ignorant women 5
votes cast solid against her, and this would
make things worse than they are already
And besides women are not ready for the
ballot yet You men have been trained in
its exercise for generations, and still il
must be acknowledged that you have made
but sorry mess of it. Then how could
we be expected to step in, lacking all this
training, and reform the world at the polls
after men have for so long made failure
of itY"
The interview was in progress at the
home of Mr.. j Cliff Richardson whose
-yest Mrs. Terhune was during her ST
Louis visit. :,
Imagine in the course of the talk that
you see facing you n sunny featured WON
an, quick to smile or laugh, yet almost
stately in impressiveness of bearing, with
tlear, blue eyes, hair well silvered with
white and brushed up and back from a
pretty brow, comfortable figure clad in a
dark gown with two rows of soft lace run
ming down the front from the shoulders to
hem, low, southern voice in talking, and
you will have some idea of Marion Har-
land. What you will miss perhaps is that
gentle magnetism of manner which makes
every one like Mrs. Terhune from the first
moment of meeting.-St. Louis Post Dis
patch.
A RUG thirteen feet square, contain
ing 256 stitches to the inch, has beer
sold in London for $4,000.