The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-06-24
THE FAMED COUNTESS OF WARWICK
WHO HAS A GENIUS FOR ORGANIZATION

to the noise and hurry of the world. You
can call it a monastery II you will. she
said. though she disclaimed the conTen-
tional character for her college because
no vows were taken. Her organization
however included a daily service on ca
thedral lines: and II was, we have seen,
designed rather TO take women out OF the
world than TO help them to play their part
in it. On the whole. then, the New
Woman would be unwilling TO take Mary
Astell as her prototype in the way of or
ganization. One would be sorry to Join
the Taller in vituperating Mary. even
though those who tattled included such
respectable names as Swift and Addison.
But looked at 1t in the light OF nineteenth
almost twentieth--century organisation.
we can only regard Mary Astell as n
beacon of warning-how not to do II.
There are many prominent women on
both sides of the Atlantic who could he
cited as model organizers; but. speaking
for myself. | shrink from personalities
in this respect as much as l do from the
perpendicular pronoun aforesaid Moth
ing. in my opinion. would be so fatal to
the interests of progressive women IA bet
ter term than new women) than having
their methods tackled on TO the name of
some one leader and so being dwarfed
down 10 the dimensions of an ism.
Lady Jeune has recently written an ex-
haustive paper in the Anglo-SaXon Re
Women" and I myself contributed one
of similar character to the Christmas
number of the Queen. But | repeat most
emphatically that nothing, in my opinion
could be more detrimental to the organi-
cation of the woman's movement than
being pinned to the apron strings of any
individual leader, however capable that
leader may be. The very essence of the
new organization is originality; and that
will never be realized If aspirants elect to
stretch themselves on bed of Pro.
crustes.
1t is, of course impossible to deal ex-
haustively with such subject as this in
the necessarily circumscribed space at
ones command. | haves not tried this
hopeless experiment. What have tried
to do Is to give one practical hint-sug-
geste6 by a pretty long experience--so
that any woman who really wants to de-
velop her own faculties can help those
who are like minded. Ny advice would
go into two words: BE yourself; or, be
original That reminds me of a story
once told me by successful student.
and with IL | will close my remarks That
student was brought face to face with
an entirely new and somewhat abstruse
subject. and was scared by II. In dismay
the student sought the professor and told
him he must abandon the honor course
at college because that subject barred the
way. II have read every commentator I
can lay hands on he said, land I am
none the wiser" shut UP your common
taries." replied the professor: take your
bare text; read that over and over again.
and think the matter out for yourself.
Lock yourself In your room and make up
your mind you will master the subject"
The student took the advice and that
subject became the favorite one In his
curriculum, gaining him high position
on the class list when he graduated That
was how he organized his mental facul-
ties. What man has done woman can do.
and / believe that one word. originality,
is the master key to all organization, in
dividual and social alike
FRANCES EVELYN WARWICK