Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1897-01-28
"charity's" Idea Of Woman's Sphere.

I believe the ballot for women will
divide her blessings and multiply her
woes. Her divine Office Of - sister,
mother and wife is now above politics
and not below. "'he delicate flower in
nv button hole world not be as good
as a cabbage leaft to eat. Every object
has its place in the economy Of nature,
but all things are not for all places.
It would spoil the flower to eat it and
it would make all unsatisfactory din
ner.
In the social structure woman Is not
satisfied with being the keystone in
the arches aud the ornaments, but she
thinks she wants to be the foundation
too, away down in the mind. The
arches and the corner pieces are neces-
sary to the stability of the structure as
well as the beauty. The solid rocks Of
the foundation are not for show. This
ftly illustrates the sphere IF woman.
She appeals to the refined tastes, the
sentiments that civilize and ennoble.'
And she is fitted by nature for this
place only. She would pine and die if
she were not observed, admired and
tattered. She is naturally the orna-
ment of the social structure and not
fitted to bear the heavy burdens.-be
the mud sills.
The sea is bounded by rocky shores.
Because 1t Is kent between the restrain
ing walls, it Is deep and broad anu USE
full to the world of commerce and fills
its physical place in the world; but it
lashes the walls, sometimes gently like
the caress of love, and again with a
fury like the women fight the forces
that restrain them. The waves that
beat the mountains do not shake them
the flood rolls back tainted with mud,
perhaps.
a flower to be appreciated must re-
tain its beauty and its fragrance. The
delicate shades of color may mingle on
the petals of rose SO exquisitely that
Ruskin could not allalize the lines of
variation; but a breath will sometimes
destroy the tint that charms the obser-
yer. A woman to be the object of
chiyalrous honor must possess IL deli
cate refinement and modesty that is as
distinct as the tlnts of the flower, as
easily destroyed. These qualities of
mind and heart are not attained by the
mud sills of society nor by the element
that beats upon sociai barriers like the
waves that beat upon the beach.
In the TELLER of last week Hope
says: I'VE are tired of trying to be
learned, noble and useful wives and
mothers" This, believe to be the
sum and the substance of all the argu-
ments in favor Of new spheres for the
new women Of this age. Restlessness
's characteristic of the sex. A diet of
sweetmeats and pickles stimulates the
desire to find new sphere III which to
expend the energies that should find
lull play in the offices Of hone.
The inherent restlessness of woman
Is stelling in its effects upon the human
race. The underlying cause Of this
passion for change is love of ostenta-
"oh' 1t Is wOman's dissipation. Man
loVes the country with its pure air,
oroad fields and the solitude of the
mountains and forests; but woman
loves the city with its society, sorrows
ana sins. 1t is through her influence
.hat the farm is deserted and the
haunts OF poverty In the cities are sup
p''ed. Constant beating against the
soc'ai barriers Is menace to good So