The Press., 1897-02-11
w. C. T. U.
Valentine Thoughts.

Valentine Thoughts.
 Frances E. Willard, IL. D., in terested a great many Traders of her autobio- by explaining how it came about that she never married. Some of the most strik- ing paragraphs in this confession were as follows: "One of my early friends was wont to call me Opal because that jewel has an edge of snow and heart of flame. When told my dear mother, going from college at Evanston, that had written to dear girl friend, I love you more than life, better than God, more than dread damnatiOn,' she exclaimed, 'Oh, Frank pray Heaven you may never love a man. But her prayer was not answered, for I have been so fortunate as to fancy, at least, that loved man-nay, more than one.
 "When I was but fou1tee brilliant young scientist came on a brief visit to our family. Of course he never knew it, elegant fellow that he was, but for many day..I dreamed dreams and saw visions of which he was the central figure. No one supposed this, not my own mother even.
 "When I was nineteen I felt that Ma ture's code did not deal with me justly. Her dictuln was that no delicate -natured woman .would ever let any man living know that she had gentle thought of him until he gave the sign. And I had said in my inmost heart, You heartless old tyrant of custom, since you have dared thus basely to decree, hazarding thus the holiest interests of two lives on the perceptions of the one less finely organized, you shall have full meas ure of obedience,' and no actor nor detective ever schooled himself more sedulously to carry out his part than did to be utterly impressive, to treat all men alike, with uni- versal calm, with casual goodwill and that alone.
 "A gifted man, who has made two women happy since, once wrote me on this wise: Dear Friend: Methinks your heart deceives you, for when we meet, though you speak kindly, you hardly look at me, and take this as token re- piled Dear Brother This is the. .explana- tion. I had clear and direct gaze un- til much study weakened my eyes, and protect them now by studying the carpet When was twenty-one I wore ring for three-quarters of a year and acknowl- edge an allegiance based on the SUD- position that an intellectual comradeship was sure to deepen into unity of heart. l But the real romance of my life may not be told until have passed from sight, | when, believe, it might contribute to a | better understanding between good men | and u'omen. I have been blessed with | friendships, rich, rare and varied, all lying | within the temperate zone of great | hearts geography, which has been called | cold simply because no Stanley had ex- plored it's tropic climate, and set down as | wholly inland because no adventurous Balboa had viewed it's wide Pacific sea. :"
 Mrs. Mary Torrans Lathrop, the Daniel | Webster of the w. c. T. U., died Jan 8, l 1895, in her home and native state, Michigan, my Michigan" leaving leg acy of writings, rich and varied. Appro- priate to the hour is the following poem entitled
 | woMEN's ANSWER
 Do you know you have asked for the cost | Hest thing
 | Ever made by the hand above?
 A woman's heart and a woman's life,
 And @ woman's wonderful love?
 Do you know you have asked for these priceless things
 | AS a child might ask for a toy,
 Demanding what others have tried to
 With the reckless dash of boy?
 You have written my lesson of duty out,
 Man-like, you havefquestioned me; Now stand at the bar of a woman's soul I Until have questioned thee. .. You require your dinner shall always be Il hot,
 l Your socks and your shirts be whole
 l require your heart to be true as Gods I stars,
 And pure as the purest, your soul.
 You require a cook for your mutton anC II beef;
 lrequire far grander thing,
 A seamstress you're wanting for socks
 and shirts;
 1 look for a man and king. A king for beautiful realm called home, And man that the Maker, God, Shall look upon as he did the first,
 And say ''It is very good.'' am fair and young, but the roses will
 fade ..s
 From my soft young cheek some day Will you love me then in life's autumn Il hours
 As youdid in the towering May? ; Is your heart an ocean so strong and deer
 may launch my all on its tide , A loving woman finds heaven or hell : On the day she is made bride. . require all things that are good and tru, All things that 8 man should be:
 If you give all this, I would stake my Tiff,
 To be all your demand of me. If this cannot be, laundress and cook You can hire and little to pay j.. .-f .. ) But 8 woman's heart and a woman's life
 Should never be thrown away. . BUOKLEN's ARNIoA SALvK.-The bes
 salve in the world for cuts, bruises, sores
 ulcers, salt rheum, fever sores, letter chapped hands. chilblains, corns, and al IT T a