The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-09-13
SALIENT POINTS OF THE NORTH
::.= DAKOTA FEDERATION MEETING
Exchange Ideas Club Reports Gordons Address Stimulates
%~" Thought Womans Future Place. -as

In the armory, where tho stage was set
with a sylvan scene amid which was
pitched a Sioux tepee OF blankets arid
skins and in the trees swung Hiawatha's
cradle. All taking part were dressed In
Indian costumes Of buckskin, blankets,
shawls with beads and feather ornaments.
Miss Dora Hove sang the Indian songs,
accompanying them with TRANSACTIONS and
explanations Master Dan Whitman gave
the war dance to the sound of tho TOM
tom.
The lecture on Indian myths and GUS
toms was given by Mrs. T. Thorsen and
included the poetical lore of both Ojib-
ways and Dacotahs. Mrs. Thorsen gave
the stories of tho trailing arbutus, tho
ghost dance, Indian fairy tales and the
legends of the rainbow colored walls Of
the Black Hills.
The closing exercise was the reading
Of extracts from Hiawatha illustrated by
scenes in pantomime, arranged by Mrs.
George Rhuberg. This included beg
gars dance and closed with a war dance
by a group of youths. The program was
presided over by Mrs. Stoner.
The literary feature of the convention
was the lecture by Rev. Eleanor r. Cor
don of Fargo on "Just Like a Woman"
1t was the intention Of the speaker to
bring out those unsettled and vital Ques-
lions Of woman's place and future In order
to make women think about them, regard
less of their acceptance Of her point OF
view. It was followed by a bright dis
cussion that went on privately through
the remainder of the convention.
Wrong View Of Sex Differences.
Miss Gordon stated in opening the sub
ject that the false assumption of an es-
sential moral and intellectual difference
between man and woman Is the basis
of much wrong thinking and acting. She
10 nrOnOSitiOn that
there is no essential difference-that the
seeming differences are the result of en-
yironment. By environment she referred
rather to the moulding influences than to
physical surroundings which might be the
same for time with boy and girl. She
regarded 1t as egotistical for women to
claim the maternal instinct wholly for
themselves viewing it as but part of the
great fountain Of love and sympathy from
which comes the desire to defend the
weak. care for the helpless, cherish and
nourish all young brooding life. This feel
ing belongs to man as well as woman and
it is a pity that through a mistaken
psychology it Is go often allowed to re-
main dormant. From the beginning there
is a difference in the traits encouraged
in a boy and In a girl and in the manners
taught or tolerated. Perhaps more
deadly mistake Is the assumption Of an
ethical difference based upon the mistakes
Of training, tradition and custom. Instead
Of chastity being considered an essentially
| feminine virtue it will become the rule
among men, when women refuse to recog-
nize socially or marry unchaste men.
Similarly, women will become truthful
when this virtue is expected Of them.
The greatest tragedy Miss Gordon found
in the idea that men alone have the power
| to reason and women to feel. This results
| in leaving the exercise of religious duties
! largely to women and the cultivation Of a
race of hard-hearted men and of hysteri-
| cal women. Men become business ma
chimes to whom husbandhood and father
! hood become incidents; wifehood and
i motherhood become the center and cir
| conference Of woman's circle, giving her
no wide outlook.
Women Should Be Wage-Earners.
Miss Gordon found that economic condi-
lions were forcing women out Of the mar
row circle Of the home, and believes this
to be in accord with the right ordering of
things. The home-making Of the future
/ will not occupy the whole of a wornan's
life, and under future conditions she will
have no warrant In assuming that as a
home-maker she can give value received
for being supported all her life in ease,
overburdentng her husband to pay for her
leisure. SO much of home industries has
gone out Of the home. and rightly, that the
home maker is no longer able to do her
share of the worlds work In the bearing
and rearing Of a family Of children.
In becoming a wage Garner she must rid
herself of the idea that she is a peculiar
being requiring peculiar treatment. She
must know that there IS no feminine road
to excellence, no >woman's road to sue.
cess; she must believe that the only gen
Jus that wins anything in this world is the
genius for hard work, the genius for
taking pains, for working early and late
thoroughly, honestly. for the desired good
She must renounce forever the apologize
) attitude, the appearanceEof seeming to bes
, a place for work or infiuence.
Il Martha Scott Anderson.