The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-05-09
WONIAN'S WORK.

We print elsewhere to-day communi-
cation to the New York Sun by Mrs. Ida
Hustled Harper, commenting on an edl-
torial article recently appearing in The
Times, which interests US no little. Our
readers will recall that we have printed
series of editorial articles on public
ornamentation and public cleanliness, in
which we have endeavored to interest
the women of Richmond. and especially
the Woman's Club of Richmond, in this
all-important subject The Suns cores
pondent quotes an extract from one OF
the articles in question and uses it as
text for sermon on Woman's rights.
She wants TO know "if the editor of The
Times is ready to grant women the
necessary power to do this important
work, or does he. like many OF his
brethren. want them to attempt it with
one hand tied behind their back?''
We reply that The Times wants the
women of Richmond to be free handed
in going about this responsible work,
but the difference between Mrs. Harper
and The Times is that she thinks that
this is to be accomplished by putting the
ballot into the hands Of the women of.
Richmond, while we know that these
women are more powerful without the
ballot than with it. The great mistake
that Mrs. Harper and women of her kind
make is that they underestimate the in
tiuence of woman in her sphere. Women,
at least Southern women, are influential
becanse they do abstain from politics,
because they do work in their own sphere,
because they do not lower themselves to
the level of men. There is notza good
woman in tn South who cannot, and we
might say who does not, control some
mans vote The men do the voting, but
the women are, in fact, the power behind
the ballot and the women of the South
may thus accomplish anything that they
have mind to in the political world.
Mrs. Harper says that "men have made
as great a mess OF municipal housekeep-
ing as they would have done of the
domestic branch if they mad taken charge
of it, She also observes that a wo-
man is considered perfectly competent 10
keep 2nef own 4UOOI-Sdiu 4Sieetli, Jul 1iol,
under any circumstances. competent to
extend her jurisdiction to the other side
of the fence That she has for ages
made her own garden blossom like the
rose, but never has she been permitted
to exercise this power for creating beauty
beyond her own doorpost.
We repsy that woman has made great
success in Housekeeping, in growing
flowers and in beautifying the premises,
because she has devoted herself to that
work, because she has attended to the
affairs at home instead Of trapsing
around nedd.ing with politics. Mrs
Harper cannot be more than we are in
favor of having the good women of the
country take an active Interest and a
part in many public questions. We are
urging. for example, that the Woman'ss
Club of Richmond shall take hold Of this
question of public characterization and the
question of public cleanliness, and we
say thatzif the club will follow that
course it will accomplish great results;
for#the community. But we would irn-f
press upon Mrs, Harper the fact that
the Woman's Club is very much more.
powerful. operating as L does. In wo-s
mans sphere lit WouldS:be If the