Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-08-16

Atlanta, Aug. 15.-(Special Correspond
ence.)-The latter part of this nineteenth
century is woman's time. At no pre-
vious period has woman attained that
position which is rightfully hers, that of
being the companion of man in the high
est and best sense of the term. There
is now a comradeship existing between
intelligent men and women which tends
to the elevation and advancement of both
sexes. There is now less sentimentality
and more sense; less romantic fervor and
more honest. genuine friendship; less un-
fortunate ENHANCEMENT and more up
right, straightforward association, be-
tween men and women of average intel
ligence
The broader the outlook afforded wom-
en- the more extended their line of vision,
the stronger grow their mental faculties
and the more infiniteSSimal become their
tendencies towards evil
Mental activity is one of the greatest
of moral safeguards, and concern about
the large things of life in a measure de-
stroys the smaller evils of our natures.
/ am naturally an optimist and rejoice
that such is the case. There are too
many clouds and shadows in all of our
lives to render it desirable that we
should forever court the miSts and fogs.
I believe that every one is better moral
ly, as we'll as physically, from constant
SunbathS, and even an occasional sum
stroke. "a prostration from heat" than
a chronic attack of moral and mental
pneumonia or bronchitis, superinduced
by dampness and exposure to cold and
clammy atmospheric conditions.
l accept the theory-in moral as well
as physical life-that light and God
given sunshine will destroy the germs of
sin and disease. So, being such a be-
lever, am naturally an optimist, and
rd of hI1-
manity. The world is growing better as
it grows wiser, as all observant people
now acknowledge, and there Is nothing
that has so largely brought about this
result than the position at present held
by the women of the world and the effect
they now have upon the actions of men.
Women have ceased to be the play
things of men; they have also ceased to
inhabit the moated oranges and to sigh
hopelessly for recreant lovers. The men
tai activity of the intelligent woman of
today has set the pace for us and is
teaching the world that our affections
and our sentiments amount to very little
unless they tend to the uplifting of those
about u.s.
am induced torepeat these statements,
made ofttimes before by me and every
other observant woman, because of the
prominence and unique position occupied
by Mrs. William j. Bryan, wife of the
presidential nominee of the democratic
party. No other woman has ever receiv-
ed just the same kind Of admiration and
aroused the same amount of enthusiasm
under similar circumstances. Other
wives of distinguished men have receiv-
ed from chivalric Americans gratifying
ovations, which were due partly to their
sweet womanliness and largely to the
elevation attained by their husbands.
But, ever since the nomination of Hon.
William J. Bryan at Chlcago-which was
witnessed by his wife-Mrs. Bryan has
shared with her husband all the honor
and glory of this upheaval of public sem
timent. She is known to have been the
helpmeet of this remarkable man, whom
she married in all that this old-fashion-
ed English word implies She is believed
to have been the inspiration of her hus-
bands life, and to have encouraged ev-
cry laudable ambition of his soul. She
is regarded as the companion of the cell
ebrated man whose name she bears, his
trusted comrade; and her mental facul-
ties are not deemed mere reflex of his.
1t is known that Mr.. Bryan consults her
upon all points of interest. and that to
him and his cause no mans advice Is of
such value and importance. For the
first time in the political history of our
country the wife of presidential candi-
date is receiving the homage of Ameri-
cans, not only as loving, devoted wife
and mother, but as an intellectual, far
seeing woman, whose genius mas Deeu
largely responsible for the marvellous
success of her famous husband.
1t is said that at the Chicago conven-
ton, when the nominations were about
to be made and Mr.. Bryan's friends were
keenly anxious for his success, the nota-
BILE men Of the Nebraska delegation were
heard to inquire in the convention hall
with suppressed excitement: Has Mrs.
Bryan come yet? Is she in the hall?'
In the crisis of her husbands life his
friends and supporters turned to Mrs.
Bryan, the quiet, self-reliant woman, for
advice and encouragement.
The ovation rendered her on last
Wednesday evening at Madison Square
Garden, New York, was splendid tri-
butte to brave. true, loyal, brilliant wo-
man, as well as to the wife of the next
president Of these United States.
What has been accomplished by Mrs.
Bryan has been done without sacrificing
one single womanly instinct or duty. We
have In her thoroughly representative
American woman of the latter part of
this nineteenth century. She il q loving
mother, without deeming 1t essential to
weary the public with Incidents of self
sacrifice. She Is sensible enough to know
that the exception is the unfafthfu1 moth
err, and that a woman's life and its re-