The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-06-08
Facts of Interest
To Women Readers.
Symposium Of Information, Partly Grave,
Partly Cosby and Partly Gay.

! an accident be calmly met. Such i'm
| proved faculties are surely transmits
sible and In process of generation may
| become In their highly improved state
an integral part of the race. But we
must walt for the chlseling OF time to
| work such changes In humanity. The
duty which lies nigh us today Is TO
warn women of dangers which come
froms over enthusiasm In the pursuit
| of this pleasure. Two-:hirds of the wo-
| men ride wheels fool!shly. because ig-
norantly. The saddle Is too low. giving
| cramped position. They subject them
selves to Jars quite unnecessarily by
jumping or instead OF gliding from the
wheel. "A woman should be taught TO
mount and dismount, as men do, and
should be careful TO have the saddle
exactly OF suitable s,ze. In every
academy for teaching the riding OF the
bicycle should be sign posted: No
pupils received wearing corsets; tight
belts forbidden and the woman's own
| conscience and common sense should
forbid her favorlte exercise at physio-
logical periods when nature claims a
rest"
For one" writes Kate Field. 1T am
weary of this idiotic babble about the
new woman" There ain't no sich
a person." declared Betsy Prig. OF
Sairey Camp, when that portentous
person Haunted Mrs. Harris In her RI
vars face for the last time, which
breaks the camel's back and makes pa
tience cease to be virtue. There is
no new woman. So much nonsense is
written about my sex nowadays as to
make earnest women hide their heads
in shame and long to be another kind
of creature that might quietly go about
its business and be judged purely on
its merits. No self-respecting woman
wants to be Judged by sex If she be u
worker. All she asks is Justice. What
with woman buildings, woman edi-
tions, woman columns generally devot-
ed to twaddle, fulsome dattery, horrid-
ly distorted fashion plates and cooking
recipes for indigestible dishes. the real
woman is lost sight Of. She is not new.
She represents the glorious trinity OF
love, devotion and self-sacrifice. She
bathed Christ's feet In tears. and was
first at the cross. She sold her jewels
that Columbus might discover America.
led the armies Of France to victory. and
was burned at the stake for her patri-
otism. She was torn to pieces for her
beauty and learning in this republic.
where she dares to think for herself
and disagree with self organized
saints who mistake their Ivers
for their conscience. She gave
the Gracchi to Rome, and sent her
sons to fight for our union while scrap
ing lint for the wounded in her DESC
late home. She wrote lyrics in old
Greece. Aurora Leigh and Adam
Bede' in modern England, and Uncle
Toms Cabin in our own country.
From the beginning of history she has
been the half creation and the compile
ment of man. With advancing civili-
cation the real woman wakes In eeif-
knowledge and begins to realize the
grandeur of her mission. The tag and
slave are gradually disappearing. No
horne worthy Of the man can exist
wherein reason. intelligence, conf
dence. truth and love do not reign.
Without such homes this republic can
not last. Scales are fast falling from
the eyes of despairing men. They see.
as never before, that the salvation of
orr institutions depends upon homes
that can only be redeemed by a noble
and exalted womanhood The woman
movement Is a war of sense against
folly; Of reason against prejudice. If
there be war at ALL II ts a war be-
tween two kinds Of women-dolIs and
brains. Men are merely spectators.
Whatever the majority Of woman want
men will accord cheerfuIly. That
brains will be victorious ere many
years Is as inevitable as progress. The
world does not retrograde, though
Silurians still walk the earth and for
get the age to which they belong"
Equally pertinent Is "Ambers" re-
mark upon the sans subject: "When
by our own vol'''on we thrvst ourselves
out into the world with men, when we
square our chins, roll Up our sleeves
and put our arms akimbe, declaring
ourselves aoundantly able TO fight our
own battles. what wonder that men
abandon their primal Instincts of chiv-
airy, dub Us new women and bid us
accept fair field and no favors? Lot
lis not make complaint of dlscourteu,is
or disa greeable treatment that we have
brought upon ourselves by leaving the
pedestal we were placed upon and get
ting down to run foot races with men
In the dirt. The old woman was smart
enough for me. She had all her rights.
She occupied a place in history and in
the hearts of men. second to nothing
that God has yet created. and she has
left an aroma In the world like the
smell! Of the orange COVERS that sweeten
Pasadena. AS for me would ask no
higher tribute than to be written with
the obsolete race of women. I desire
no loftisr need Of glory than was
granted the nameless host of mothers
whose sons have carried forward their
blessings in lives consecrated to all that
was truest and best. The new woman
may vote. hut no ballot that she can
ever cast will equal the prayer the old
woman offered when she buckled the
sword to the side OF her boy and sent
him into battle. or when. by patient
precept, she guided him into useful cjti-
zenshlp and splendid manhood. The
new woman may ride wheel. be glib
IN parliamentary debate. manage real
business concerns. whip the men single
handed. organize clubs. and wear trous-
ers; she may be bright and brave. ac-
tive, hustling and vjvaclous. able to
take care of herself and her husband.
too. plant potatoes, plow cornfe!ds, and
break colts, but ohall turn her down
with my last existing breath unless she
preserves her womanhood through It
all. She cannot do that, my dear. any
more than you can preserve the flavor
Of wild strawberry after It is canned,
or the perfume Of wood violet when
you have cultivated It along with gar
Claxc Lon klos. IL