Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1897-02-18

few months IN the MarQueSaS lSianOS,
where had very pleasant visit. That
was where got Eliza. In many respects
the Marouesas Islands now lead the
world"
"Dear mel" calculated Miss Williams.
''In what respect?"
IN the relation of the sexes. They
have worked out the great problem
upon their own lines. and their iso-
lated geographical position has helped
them to come to a conclusion OF their
own. The woman there Is. as she
should be, in every way the absolute
equal of the male. Come in, Charles.
and sit down. Is Eliza all right?"
"Al right. aunt"
.'These are our neighbours. the Misses
Williams. Perhaps they will have some
stout. You might bring in a couple OF
bottles, Charles"
mo, no, thank you! None for us.
cried her two visitors, earnestly.
mo: am sorry that I have no tea
to offer you. l look upon the subservi-
ency of woman as largely due to her
abandoning nutritious drinks and invig-
Grating exercises to the male. I do
neither" She picked up a pair of fif-
teen-pound dumb-bells from beside the
fireplace and swung them lightly about
her head. You see what may be done
on stcut," said she.
but don't you think" the elder Miss
Williams suggested timidly, don't you
think. Mrs. Westmacott. that woman
has mission Of her own?"
The lady of the house dropped her
dumb-bells with crash upon the floor
1.-The old can't" she cried. THE old
shibboleth! What is this mission which
is reserved for woman? All that is hum
BILE, that is mean, that is soul-killing.
that is so contemplate and so ill-paid
that none other will touch it. All that
is woman's mission. And who imposed
these limitations upon her? Who
cooped her up within this narrow
sphere? Was it Providence? Was 1t
nature? No, it was the arch enemy.
1t was man.
"Oh. say. auntie!' drawled her
nephew.
1T was man, Charles 1t was you
and your fellows. I say that woman
is a colossal monument to the selfish
ness of man. What is all this boosted
chivalry-these fine words and vague
phrases? Where is it when we wish to
put it to the test? Man in the abstract
will do anything to help a woman. OF
course. How does it work when his
pocket is touched? Where is his chiv-
airy then? Will the doctors help her to
qualify? will the lawyers help her to
be called to the bar? will the clergy
tolerate her in the church? Oh, it is
close your ranks then and refer poor
woman to her mission! Her mission!
To be thankful for coppers and not to
Interfere with the men while they grab
BILE for gold, like swine round trough.
that is mans reading Of the mission of
women. You may sit there and sneer
Charles. while you look upon your vic
tim, but you know that it is truth,
every word Of it,
Terrified as they were by this sudden
torrent of words, the two gentlewomen
could not but smile at the sight Of the
fiery, domineering victim and the big
apologize representative of mankind
who sat meekly bearing all the sins of
his sex. The lady struck a match,
whipped a cigarette from case upon
the mantelpiece. and began to draw the
smoke into her lungs
Il find it very soothing when my
nerves are at all rufTled," she ex-
planned. You don't smoke? All, you
miss one of the purest of pleasures
without reaction"
Miss Williams smoethed out her
silken lap.
ut is a pleasure" she said, with
some reproach to self-assertion, (which
Bertha and I are rather too old fash
Toned to enjoy
mo doubt. 1t would probably make
you very ill if you attempted it. BY
the way, l hope that you will come to
some OF our Guild meetings. I shall
see that tickets are sent you"
Your Guild?'
1T is not yet formed, but shall lose
no tlme In forming a committee. 1t is
my hab1t to establish branch of the
emancipation Guild wherever I go.
Ihere is Mrs Sanderson in Anerley
VINO is already one Of the emancipated.
so that l have nucleus. 1t is only by
organized resistance, Miss Williams,
that we can hope to hold our own
against the selfish sex. Must you go,
them"
Yes, we have one or two other visits
TO pay said the elder sister, "You
VIII, am sure, excuse u.s., hope that
you Will find Norwood a pleasant resi-
dence''
All places are to me simply'a battle
heid, she answered, gripping first one
and then the other with a grip which
crumpled up their little thin fingers.
The days for work and healthful exer-
else, the evenings to Browning and
high discourse, Ell, Charles? Good
oye! She came to the door with them,
and as they glanced back they saw her
still standing there with the yellow bull
pup cuddled up under one forearm, and
the thin blue reek Of her cigarette as
cending from her lips.
"Oh, what dreadful, dreadful wom-
am whispered sister Bertha, as they
hurried down the street Thank good
ness that it is over"
But she'll return the visit" an
swered the other. II think that we had
better tell Mary that we are not at
home"
CTO Be ContinuedD