The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1896-05-28
The Modern Woman.

Temple Israel DR.. Leon Harrison delivered
his lecture on tho theme "The Modern
Woman" DR.. Harrison said:
If men represent the prose, women rep
resent the poetry Of humanity. They turn
houses into homes. They arc tho idols of
domestic worship. They cultivate tho
graces and gcntler arts Of lifo. Their in
1uence purihes passion, sweetens toll
stimulates ambition and reflnos civiliza-
ton. Music and song were sounded In
their praise, power acknowledged the
strength of weakness, intellect bowed
down at tho feet of beauty. Woman is not
only mother of the man, but author Of
the gentleman and master of both.
History will never fully record how this
unseen influence has quickened philoso-
piers, inspired poets, encouraged aspiring
genius and directed even the policy of EN-
pires. 'Tis said that under kings women
govern; under queens, men. They are
often the power behind the throne Little
hands fashion great destinies.
l realize how tremendous Is the task as
sumed by public teacher when he under
takes to consider woman" John Stuart
Mill practically gave it up. He declared
that no man has ever known any woman;
that even husband does not fully know
his own wife, that our love Of praise and
fear Of blame ever unconsciously make us
pose before our closest associates and hide
the absolute reality Many husband
may agree with John Stuart Mill, yet the
unsophisticated may venture to conjecture
where he cannot assert, and standing on
the platform of common experience not
stray too widely from the truth.
Common experienced That is called
history and reveals the gradual emancipa-
ton Of womanhood from masculine bru-
tally. Flocks and herds and women were
originally possessed as chattels. "Thou
shalt not covet thy neighbours house., " runs
the old commandment, "nor his wife, nor
his cattle" They gradually rose to the
level of slaves. They were valued as use
full and salable animals. They began to
be purchased and owned by husband.
They built houses, plowed fields, sup
ported their masters and were the beasts
of burden of the community. The ancient
world was based upon human slavery and
female subjugation. 1t was built upon
rotten foundations. From the Jews the
Christians had borrowed their exaltation
of womanhood. The patriarchs' wives
were their partners and equals. Prophet
esses kindled the popular heart into glow
| ing fervor, and JudBan queens commanded
| Jewish allegiance
For many dark centuries wives and
mothers were apparently regarded as nee
| essary evils, until at the Crusades the
world burst into sentimental song; until
| the age of chivalry gloritled love- localized
| womanhood and transformed medieval
superstition into the gallantry of knight.
| hood.
We have now extended our horizon, We
have enlarged our view, we have sunk the
stereotyped, conventional woman of your
| and my experience into the historical fig
| ure, rising from the dust throughout the
ages, breaking the yoke from her neck
mounting without effort on the floodtidt
of public acknowledgements until we behold
her today. She has freed herself from the
right of might by the might of right
Honor the voluntary celibates that con
sent to perpetual loneliness rather than
stoop to a degradation, enjoy conven-
tional happiness, and yet feel their self re-
spect and honor oozing out through every
pore Of the skin. The capacity for indie
pendence and a broad, practical culture
should fit every woman for the ideals OF
feminine usefulness, and they are:
First.-The home. The old idea is that
when two are made one, man is that one
that, as the old Spanish proverb says,
| "When two ride on horseback, one must
ride behind" This might be countenanced
in countries where there is one absolute
head Of the state and correspondingly one
absolute head of the home. But what need
Is there of monarch in land where there
are 10, 100000 sovereigns, and, strangely
enough, 10,O00,0OO subjects, 10, 900, O0C
masters and 10, 900, 900 servants, the rulers
Identical with the ruled and the governors
with the governed? Pattern your house
hold after your country Both command
and obey. Both rule and both serve. Ii
word, solve the domestic problem by
practioipg self government
Woman is, Furthermore, the active agent
in philanthropy and the warmest support
er of religion. Her broader education
would make her more practical In the one
and more intellectual In the other. Intel
Igence would substitute for sentiment In
almsgiving means Of self help, and fol
emotion in religion logical conviction and
moral fiber
There Is a wide field opening for WON
anhood There are great opportunities un-
folding themselves A more thorough cul-
ture alone is needed to equip these potent
workers with practical sagacity, sound
Judgment and consistent purpose.
"An ounce of mother" says the Span
ish proverb, sis worth pound of clergy"
The future Of the world Is in the hands OF
Its feminine guardians. The happiness OF
man is dependent upon his helpmate. Its
citadel is home. Its shrine is the hearth
stone. Our home is more than our castle
1t is our palace, for glory as well as de-
Tense. 1t means satisfaction In experience
and joy in remembrance. Home Is har-
mony breathed through two lives as In
struments in full accord, imperfect at first
and discordant, yet slowly blending, as
husband prizes wife and wife husband
until at last she sets herself to man like
perfect music unto noble words.-St
Louis Republic.