The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1897-07-22

III Is al very "tlCoIile INV dSioIl,
ma'am," said he. clearing his throat
and pulling at his high collar. Try
this garden chair. What is there tina,
can do for you? Shall ring ms let
Mrs. Denver know that you are here?''
pray do not trouble, Admiral. /
only looked in with reference to our lit
tie chat this morning. l wish that you
would give us o u powerful support
at our coming meeting for the improve
merit Of the condition OF woman"
"NO, ma'am, l can't do that" He
pursed up his lips and shook his griz-
zled head.
And why not?"
Against my principles, ma'am."
But why"
Because woman has her duties and
man has his. l may be old-fashioned,
but that is my view. Why, what is
the world coming to? / was saying to
DIR. Walker only last night that we
shall have a woman wanting to COM
mand the Channel Fleet next"
THAT is one OF the few professions
which cannot be improved" said Mrs.
Westmacott, with her sweetest smile.
Poor woman must still look to man for
protection"
Il don't like these new-fangled ideas,
ma'am. tell you honestly that |
don't. I like discipline, and l think
every one is better for it. Women have
got a great lea which they had not in
the days of our fathers. They have
universities all for themselves, / am
told, and there are women doctors, |
hear. Surely they SHOULD rest content
ed. What more can they want?"
You are a sailor, n sailors are al
ways chivalrous. If you could see how
things really are, you would change
your opinion. What are the poor things
to do? There are so many Of them and
so few things to which they can turn
their hands. GovernesSes? But there
are hardly any situations. Music and
drawing? There is not one in fifty who
has any special talent in that direction.
Medicine? 1t is still surrounded with
difficulties for women, and II takes
many years and a small fortune to
qualify. Nursing? IL is hard work i'll
paid, and none but the strongest can
stand it. What would you have them
do then, Admiral? Sit down and
starve?'
Tut, tut. 1t is not SO bad as that"
The pressure iS terrible. Advertise
for Il lady companion at ten shillings IA
week, which Is less than a cooks wage,
and see how many answers you get.
There is no hope, nc outlook, for these
struggling thousands. Life is a dull,
sordld struggle, leading down to Il
cherries old age. Yet when we try To
bring some little ray of hope, some
chance, however distant, Of something
better, we are told by chivalrous gen
tlemen that it is against their princi-
pies to help"
The Admiral WINGED, but Shook his
head in dissent.
There Is banking, the law, veterin-
airy surgery, government offices, the
civil service, all these at least should
be thrown freely open to women, If
they have brains enough to compete
successfully for them. Then if woman
were unsuccessful 1t would be her WI
fault. and the majority Of the popula-
ton Of this country could no longer
complain hat they live under a differ
ent law to the minority, n that they
are held down in poverty n serfdom,
with every a to independence sealed
to them"
What would you propose to do.
ma'am?'
It set the more obvious injustices
right, and so to pave the way for a re-
FORM. Now look at that man digging
In the field. 1 know him. He can
neither read nor write. he is stepped in
whisky, and he has as much intelli-
sence as the potatoes that he is dig
sing. Yet the man has a vote, can pos
slbly turn the scale of an election. and
may help to decide the policy of this
empire. Now, to take the nearest ex-
ample. here am /, a woman, who have
mad some education, who have Travelled,
and who have seen and studied the in
sututions of many countries. hold
considerable property. n I a more
an imperial taxes than that man spends
III whisky, which is saying a great deal,
ana yet l have no more direct influence
upon the disposal of the none which
pay than the fly which creeps along
me wall. Is that right? Is it fair?"
The Admiral moved uneasily in his
chair. Yours is an exceptional case"
said he.
BUT no woman has q voice. Consider
uhat the women are n majority in the
nation. Yet IL there was a question OF
'esisiation upon which all women were
"sreed upon n side and all the men
upon the other, 1t would appear that
'ne matter was settled unanimously
"heh more than half the population
were opposed to 1t. Is hat right?"
again the Admiral wriggled. 1t was
very awkward for the gallant seaman
" nave a bapacnrna $500 o,no,,t~