New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1897-04-28
The Easy Chair

4 q good deal Of comment upon the action
of the Colorado Legislature in comforting
upon women the privilege of becoming
part of the militia forces Of the state, if
they so desire: Most Of this comment
has smacked of ridicule, bat for what
reason do not know. Woman, it seems
to me, ought to be considered, not so
much from the clothes she wears, as from
the standpoint Of the figure which she
has cut in the history of the past. In
reviewing this we find that she has been
a fighter from the very start. True. her
battles have not always Peen along the
lines of ordinary military warfar., but
the pages of history are, nevertheless,
adorned with the names of many illus
trious heroines, who were willing to
fight, and die, if need be, for their coun-
try, their flag, or for pensions for their
husbands.
There's Joan of Arc for instance
Had fate delayed the little episode, in
which she played so important a part,
until the present day, have no doubt
that newspapers would rise up and call
her new woman and tell her that her
proper sphere was at home, taking care
of her little brother. But where in his
tory can YOU find a grander instance of
self Sacrificing devotion? %(
And then there's Pomradour. OF all
historic women, she was ideally typical
of the new woman of to day. And we
all know how she gave the French gen
erals cards and spades and discounted
them at their own boosted game of war
whether at the department, in the
council Of war, or upon the tented field.
To these might easily be added the
1 names of Mary Stark, Molly Pitcher
and Barbara Fr,etsche. Mary, you
know, won very important battle by
turning up at a very opportune moment
and giving her farmer neighbors poin-
tiers upon the use of an old weapon Of
war that had been lying about the farm
for many years as section-marker or
something of that sort. 1t was simply
another illustration of woman's ability
to grasp situations readily md turn
everything to her own advantage.
And where will you find such evidence
of remarkable patriotism and courage as
when old Barbara Frietsche burst forth
in that wonderful appeal to Stonewal]
Jackson for the protection of her coun.
try's flag?
All these instances prove that womer
have been soldiers in by-gone days, an6
it is hard to conceive why the new woman
isn't ideally adapted to be the Soldier Of
to-day. Our military apparently hav.
ing no other purpose than that of dis
play and the reduction of al nver-bur
, dened treasury, she certainly possesses
, advantages that men can never hope tc
, have. Take alone the matter Of form
i What handsome and gallant officer
they'd make! And when it came t.
r dress parade, why the boasted glitter o
q Europe's finest troops wouldn't be in it
. How fine they would look as the.
s marched through the streets on,nationa
: holidays and state occasions to the strain
y of martial music! And if we had to g
r. along with them, what excellent compa
i ny they'd make! How nice it would b
j. to entertaln them at encampments-ho1
e delightful to quarter them -.
l. And Just think of the matter of econ
: omy to the state-the decrease in pub
r lie expense that would result from til
- enlistment of women as soldiers. Sails
It ries would be nominal. At the garrison
Is they could raise their own garden stu
d and do their OWL cooking. Uniform
le could be made for Il trif1e, for is it nc
u generally understood to be a matter
n pride among the new women to dret
a, neatly and at the same time wear as Ii
g. tie as possible? .@.."
The possibility of war is to. be consit
l. cred, OF course, but even here the ne
in woman soldier CLAIMS the advantag
ID My imagination may run wild, but
l. think I can see her now as she pacl
n her trunks at home with all those dali
10 ties that will come so handy when 81
j, ting around the campfire at light, an
A. all those changes of shirt waists and ii,
" that woman must always take alor
in No matter where she goes. Whiskey an
IS. hard tack the old time companions Of Il
in soldiers Of yore, would give way tochewlr
i'd gum and caramels and the rough accoutr
ht ments of war to nice-ftting bloome