The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-06-02
MRS. W. J. BRYAN
ON WOMANHOOD

When Mrs. William j. Bryan addressed
the graduating class of the Academy for
Young Women, her alma mater, on the
subject American Womanhood," she was
received with the greatest enthusiasm.
She said In part:
1t is not surprising that each decade
broadened the views of mankind until it
was discovered that the mind of woman
was worth cultivating and that robust
and well developed body was possible
without the loss of that exceeding indef-
mite quality known femnity, until at
last woman has entered upon an era of
equal educational advantages and the many
changes which follow such a sustem.
Prejudice dies hand. Individually, 1 think
the men have done nobly in roofing out the
inherited ideas of generations.
But with the eradication of prejudice
from the masculine mind comes a whisper
of kindred growth in the minds of women.
1t must in candor be confessed that see
ing young en- funk in Latin and mathe-
mates does not make the other sex place
them on a pedestal and worship as at the
shrine of infallbe wisdom but it simply
places womankind at her ease and makes
her feel that sine has an equal chance in
the race-the power to earn her own living.
While women hive entered in some instances
upon work which perhaps more properly be-
longs to men, there are numerous avenues
in which she is legitimately entitled to a
share and at least one of tho learned pro-
fessions for which she has a marked fit
ness. 1 speak of the profession of medi-
cine and nursing.
But out of this ability to live indepen-
n ,oIry
decrease in the number of unhappy mar
riages. AS soon as a woman is able to
earn her own livelihood she will cease to
marry for home Ga phrase which was
very current twenty-five or fifty years ago.,
but will wait until she finds not only
home, but man whose congenial tastes
call forth her respect and love. Each home
established upon such basis will be per-
manent and happy.
The question arises, now that woman has
the opportunity to get am education and
improves the opportunity, what will she do
with it?
We are the homemakers Of the land. IL
any one doubt this, let him watch the
maneuveres of the average man when he
tries to manage house. 1t becomes plain
to the most careless observer that he is
out of his sphere. The home is our special
province, and all true women glory in the
fact. They love their homes. They wish
to give them all sensible and legitimate
care, and here is where the real complica-
tions arise A good education is only a
basis for future work.
1t is not so much what we learn in
school as what we learn after graduation
that decides our place in the world. Does
1t pay to drop all study in devotion to
the home? Are husband and wife, who be-
gin with equal advantage to drift slowly
apart because he continues to develop
mentally while she stands still or rather
retrogrades on account of domestic cares?
Is she IS to grow, too-if she is to aid and
supplement him mentally well as attend
to his physical comforts-where is the ne
cessary time if no home cares are neglect
ed? How can such a varied duty be sue
cessfully wrought?
No two lives have the same surround
ings, nor the same duties; the judgment of
outsiders, while often helpful, can hardly
be reliable, because they cannot know the
conditions thoroughly.
The second point that seems essential is
a wise economy of time, together with pa
tent and systematic effort. We often hear
of lack of time for reading and study,
but in the majority of cases the trouble
arises from wasted time.
When man finds in woman a thorough
appreciation of his work and aims when
the mind of woman becomes the perfect
supplement and complement of the mind of
man, which the Creator intended 1t to be,
then will all tho discussions to the rights
and privileges cease.
Woman has long been a recognized power
III the spiritual world, and when one looks
into church in any part of our land and
sees how much of the work is done by
woman, 1t seems almost superfiuous to say
that the ideal of American womanhood is
attained under a three-fold development of
the physical, the mental and the spiritual.
l cannot believe that a woman Is less Wo-
manly is she understands the working of
our government, if she appreciates the
broad principles upon which a republic
rests. Our young men and women are not
usually taught to properly value the priv
ileges of citizenship taught to properly
value the privileges of citizenship nor to
recognize the duties belonging thereto To
the women of our land belongs the only
duty of aiding in keeping alive the fires of
patriotism, and the perpetuity of our insti-
tutions depends in no mean degree upon
her intelligent interest