The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1896-10-03
SOME RAMBLING THOUGHTS.
Written for the Democratic Advocate,
BY MEMO.


paper only, as we nave maze arrangements
with the author for their exclusive appear
ance.
A few further words and we will con
clude the remarks that were suggested by
a prolonged inspection of the new 81 GER
tifcate. We may sum up the three pre-
ceding articles by saying to the young
men
Come away from idling to effort.
Rise to an understanding of the gran
deur of even an obscure life
Believe in your chances being as good
as anyone's and act accordingly.
Now, if you please, we will consider the
fact that the boy in the engraving is hav
ing his eyes opened 10 the possibilities be-
fore him by a ,romdn.
Young men. share with me some en-
phatic thoughts regarding the sex of your
mothers Mark this at the outset =
The real test of your character and secret
of its strength is not what creed you be-
lieve (for each and every creed has good
men believing it and evil men as well) but
what degree of respect you have for women.
IF you look on them with evil desire in
your heart, and find excuses for yourself
in doing so, you may say either "Ave
Maria or .'Our Father thousand
times with your mouth. and still be far
from the clear, heart intentions that should
go with such prayers.
Or if you habitually speak slightingly
of women, sweeping them into the cate
CORY of things provided, in their physical
frailty and dependence. for your pleasure,
whether you be high or low in social stand
ing, you are, instead of making woman's
sex what YOU say it is, merely advertising
the leprosy and blotches on your own char
acter.
But if among pure women you find in
centives to your own purity Of thought and
word and deed if, to win the ''bless you' OF
that mother who looked Death in the face to
give you life, you work long and hard; if,
to gain the approval Of that pure spirited
one who is neither your mother nor your
grim conflict of life, where a thousand
hands are struggling, and emerge with tro-
phies that you humbly lay at her feet; if
all these thoughts and purposes be in you,
then are you beginning to realize the power
of woman in the world and your feet are
falling into the marching time of century
of progress.
Sweep your eyes over the world; blessed
be the power of thought you can do this
from the most humble doorway In the
last 100 years this world has gained more
conquest of the elements, more control
of knowledge more emancipation Of
thought, more freedom for the individual
to develop himself to the full than in
1900 years before. All sorts of barriers
to progress have been broken down; the
freedom of souls striven for in the Refor-
nation has been followed in our century by
freedom of minds and of bodies The in
tense individualism of its early years, is
being followed by an equally intense
altruism; he who gains much, must give
much for the good of his race. But how
explain it all? Restrain your eagerness
a moment and look abroad once more Do
you remember the isothermal lines in your
geography at school? Some such lines
have to be drawn around and about the
world when we talk of progress. One line
would include China, India, and all Ma
hn, a. Int,
and darkened in mind Another line
would take in Russia and Japan, as being
partially awake. And third, speaking
broadly, would include the most progressive
peoples of the world, the Europeans and
their offspring III all quarters of the globe
China with its vast coal beds, its ores, and
its great streams, has as many material ad-
vantages as we yet it is no further ahead
than it was when the Britons were naked !
savages. How shall we explain these d.
vergences in national development ? One
word will suffice WOMAN. In every
country where woman is abused and de-
graded, either by religious sanction or
brutal instinct, there do you find sluggish
ness of national life and lack of progress.
Wherever woman is honored in The high |
est, there the strides of progress have been
the most noteworthy The phenomenon
is not difficult to explain. Great broad |
minded men, conguerers of time and space. I
victors over the unyielding crust of the
earth, MUST have great mothers Great
mothers exist only where the opportunities
are plentiful for the development of their |
own broad mindedness and nobility 1t is
to think of such men as make |
the muscle and sinew Of our broad coun-
try, being born of the stunted and distorted
bodies of Chinese wives From the poor
ill-fed Hindoo women. in terror of their
male relatives, and yet incapable of break
ing away from the traditions that fetter
them, comes what we should expect to find,
a race of pusillanimous men. The vicious
and cruel Turk, whose heart is full of blood
is the natural outcome of the
sensual and enervating atmosphere of a
harem, where childish idleness and self
are the rule among the women
So dear fellows, the next time you step
quietly behind your patient mother to sur
prise her with kiss as she sits resting in
The fading light of day; and report your
progress to that dear soul whose gray hairs
will go down to the grave in peace if she
AN but see you do well, recognise in her
md her sex the power that has made the
nations what they are. And
perchance your heart, from proper mo-
ives, has taught you to esteem the smile
# one dear girl above oil the treasures of
'arth, when you come back from the battle
or pure manhood that you are waging for
Ter sake, make it your delight to lay be-
ore her the perfected products of the best
,forts of your life; for she shall bring to
lou good and good only Rejoice in her
lecision, her broad mindedness, her intelli-
renee, her progressiveness, for she is the
potential mother of the race that is to give
/ trend to the next century, and neither
Tou nor she can be too great and noble and
Intelligent for such responsibility.
NJoy;na N M, Ya,I