Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-10-08

| Col. George w. Balm, Of Lexington,
| KY, delivered his lecture, The new
| Woman and the Old Man" at the Opera
| House last evening. 1t WAS given under
| the auspices OF the EpWorth League
and was the first of the course pro-
v1ded for this winter. Col. Balm was
favored by a good house. His audience
| was appreciaLiye and responded to a
witty alIusion or an eloquent period
with warm applause. Col. Balm i'm
pressed his hearers as very entertain
ing and instructive lecturer.
His lecture was defense of the mod
ern woman, better known as the New
Woman and strong criticism of the
present male generation, dignified by
the title of the "Old Man" He stated
that DR.. Mary Walker, in her masculine
attire and mannish habits, represented
peoples idea of the new woman,
but said the new woman could no more
be judged bX such types than could
Heaven by SWeinfurth's place near Chi
cagO. They were monstrosities The
prejudice aginst the modern woman
was largely the result of schooling. The
blcomer-clad woman, who is fully clad
from head to foot, is strongly criticized,
while the ballroom belle who is hardly
clad at all, is within the bounds of per-
feet propriety. If a woman would stand
on street corner and cuss few words
she would shock society, but man
could stand there and cuss for an hour
and nothing would be thought of it.
These things are the result of school
ing and it is no wonder that women
cry out against existing standards. Man
is expected to be physically brave, yet
woman can endure pain without a
murmur that would Cause man to groan
in anguish. She may scream at mouse
on a floor, but in the face OF danger
will defend loved one to the last.
Man had won his reputation for bravery
On the battlefield, yet this was no true
test, for without the inspiring sight of
the floating banners, the stirring music,
the encouraging shoulder touch of COM
rades, and a reputation at stake, many
a soldier who earned a name for brav-
cry would otherwise have turned cow
ard and fed in the face of the enemy.
If public sentiment has made such a
mistake in allotment Of virtue. why
cannot the same mistake be made in
the allotment Of sphere? God gave wo-
man intelligence as well as virtue, and
while she could have no greater hanri-
ness than be queen of some happy home,
yet she is qualified to become a Francis
Willard, Florence Nightingale or an
Alice Parton. She should not confine
her sphere to one household. Some Of
the best writer's and speakers are wo-
men. Abraham Lincoln never did so
much to set the negro free as did Har-
riet Beecher Stowe by her "Uncle Toms
Cabin" What God has Joined togeth-
er in fitness let not false education put
asunder.
The lecturer maintained that woman
has as much right to education for her
mind as food for her body and gave it
as his opinion that higher education
for women would tend much to arrest
the recklessness with which many mat
rimonial contracts are entered into. She
learns by education to let her heart con-
suit her head, and being accustomed to
look up to man she expects him to'rise
to her standard in order to secure her re-
spect.. The new woman was not only
pictured as a type Of intelligence and
virtue, but of health as well. Bicycle
riding, mountain climbing, tennis play
ing, gymnastics and other methods Of
developing perfect physique were
strongly commended.
The latter part of the lecture was de-
voted to picturing the faults and fail
ures of the "Old Man." The lecturer
said at the door of the "Old Man"
lies the cause of the late depression in
this country This should be the best,
the happiest and the most prosperous
land in the world, vet for the past few
years there had been unrest in the bust
ness world, with labor unemployed and
capital not invested, vice and idleness
abounded. Col Balm did not agree with
the causes given by William P. Whit
ney. alleging too much silver and too
much tariff. to be responsible for the
late depression. It was largely due to ex-
travagance On the part Of the people
who in good times bought everything,
and also by the wasted resources spent
for drink and tobacco. He said the hope
Of the country was not in money, but in
character and that God would never
permit the republic to fall until the
people deserted Him. In conclusion
Col. Balm made an eloquent appeal for
the struggling Cubans, the prosecuted
Armenians. and urged the prohibition
of undesirable foreigners from coming
to this country.
IA