The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-05-15

'PShSibtO lOi uil tue uuNIsuOIi liidt llltu
exhibit. but I am convinced Shat Somans
intelligence and sound principles can do |
much towards stenining the torrent Gre
ated by mems unbridled passions, and in
times like the preSeht women writers,
particularly those of this association ought |
TO endeavor to put forth and to be able 10 |
exert a beneficial and restraining influence |
on the public mind--an influence calming |
to mems passions and In behalf of human
ity.
Fortunately for woman. she may keep |
outside the maddening whirl and view dis |
passionately the strife too often created by |
unholy ambition. Upon her rests the n-rlcr |
duty of indicating right and persuading |
msn to cease being political intrigues and
to become statesmen and patriots.
Good women are lovers Of the country |
and have proven their devotion in times
that tried their souls as well as mems,
and no women having Goigiven talent
ought to prostitute it by pandering TO a
public craving for the merely exciting, no.
| in adding fuel to flames fed by ipordInate
ambition and base greed. 1t is an age of
unrest; a population in which passion IS
easily aroused and opinion swayed by fiery
utterance and In country whose citizens
are not contented people it is to con-
! scientious women writer's that the more
| prudent element must look for conser'a-
| tism, fairness in the presentation OF facts
and close adherence to principle3
| 1t is not for me to say how much of
| harm comes from what is known as popu-
lar literature. whether found in the yellow
| flashes Of the daily press, or in the less
| startling, but no less objectionable matter
that is thrust upon the public through the
medium of books and magazines, but it is
for lie to say, and TO say it with emphasis
| that no ;nducement, whatever its nature,
ought to tempt woman TO lend herself TO
this kind of work, dishonorlng TO herself
| and disastrous to Others. Hers is a grander
| vocation let her cast oil upon troubled
waters and foaressly and unflinchn5ly
| stand for purity, truth and justice
Individual responsibility for work OF the
| intellect can not be ignored nor can II be
shifted. it rests on the shoulders OF the
worker who Yields the pen, and failure
TO assume il aud to discharge ones duty
take place in dreary catalogue Oh Wllilui
| sin
This as TO what we write, now a word
or two as to the way we write. 1t Is not
the intention to occupy ground tnat Is 10
be covered by one of you, but wish TO cali
attention to the obligation the members OF
an association like this owe to the general
reader for the maintenance OF pure dlctlon
While disclaim having attained the age
when the old always appears more praise
worthy than the new and quite as emphat-
ically disayow pessirnisIn, am OIL the JPN
| ion that for accuracy and purity the Eng
I IiSh of Addison tlIlt is noL tbhu''NN ."
the current literature OF today NO plea
Of catering to popular demand will stand
as legitimate cause for effects so destruc-
, | five of elegance and accuracy. VINO are
the educators of public taste' Wherc 10
the majority of readers find their nenl al
food supply. and when ,hirsting Tor Know
edge must they come 10 deilied sprinss u
have that thirst siaked?
Admitted that slang is homely u,ths
crvstaiized, must we have surielt! was
nublic taste become so vltlateu W.. "a
off imitators Of Bret Harte. Marx Na a.,
, Thomas Page and Uncle hemus are '"'
, only acceptable writer's?
surely had spelling and worse grammar
ere moi of themselves humor, nor are idl 10
> Gashes smelling of sulphur emanations from
the Arcs of genius More than this, moral
! standards apply TO all action ana tneie
y mn right reason for a divorce OF FIuatl'
impulses and moral restraints anu 80 T.
that | am trenching on popular opinion II
saving that modern realism In fiction an
tho drama tend TO cheaper virtue ana az
nroc;atn vice Yes and more, as an ~
:, fluence in our homes | snouiu prefer w
exaggerated sentmentallty OF the nol., y
!, the Eighteenth century to modern reaIisn
a that condones evil doing because o. TN
heredity or unfavorable environments. -, -,
one has no more claim 10 fidelity 10 III
: than has the other. each is allke an eA
), aegeration. but not equally harmless
; What has been said may seem irreievau'
J hui in a message that may be my last
. am DESTROYS 10 impress upon you as WONT
!, and writer's the duty you owe youTseNe
= and your readers. ,.,.
:. Purity Of thought and of motive eNh, y. !,
= In purity of style form a trio worthy 70 .
!. commended for, especially in an age tnaI
. lax in requirement and too caIeiessS s0e
! rstured as to essentials, provided tnere
= diversion and obliviousness OF the soDe
:, side of life.
And now word or two as to these NEE
ines tint are not merely social reunion'
y ga meet 10 discuss measures apd TO oil'
- belnful suggestions. In order to arrive
y, the full amount OF good tn be opiain.l
y discussion must be free, dispas' iohate az
~ ,n,nersonal. Any difference OF opinl4
= should not occasion acrtmony nor give "a,
.. 20 nursing of a personal grievance
AZ The mast IL has been urged upon the men
~ hers of this association 10 make stuny
: The laws govern ing public assemoiases
:. n is plainly and succincuy stateu IN ~
au Woman's Manual OF Parliamentary "a,
w nv Mrs. II. r. Shattuck, president OF y
vi Boston political class. but when a menu
70 complaius Of no notice from the cnair a..
= motion 10 adjourn has been carried tue
u "a GOOD reason for thinking that one, J,
more c6 w. have not studied TINS text "
adopted BY thls association