Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1903-06-19

CHAPTER V.-(CoNTINUED)
ut is very welcome invasion.
ma'am," said he, clearing his throat
this garden chair What is there that
Mrs. Denver know that you are here?"
pray do not trouble, Admiral. 1
only looked in with reference to our lit
tie chat this morning. I wish that you
would give us your powerful support
at our coming meeting for the improve
ment of the condition of woman"
mo, ma'am, 1 can't do that" He
pursed up his lips and shook his griz-
zled head.
"And why not?"
But why?"
Because woman has her duties and
man has his. I may be old-fashioned,
but that is my view. Why what is
the world coming to? I was saying to
DR.. Walker only last night that we
shall have 2 woman wanting to COM
mand the Channel Fleet next"
THAT is one of the few professions
which cannot be improved" said Mrs.
Westmacott, with her sweetest smile.
poor woman must still look to man for
protection"
IT don't like these new-fangled ideas.
ma'am. I tell you honestly that l
don't. I like discipline, and I think
every one is better for it. Women have
got great deal which they had not in
the days of our fathers. They have
universities all for themselves. I am
told, and there are women doctors.
hear Surely they should rest content
ed. What more can they want?"
you are sailor. and sailors are al
ways chivalrous. If you could see how
things really are, you would change
your opinion. What are the poor things
to do? There are so many Of them and
so few things to which they can turn
their hands. Governesses? But there
are hardly any situations. Music and
drawing? There is not one in fifty who
has any special talent in that direction
Medicine? 1t is still surrounded with
difficulties for women, and it takes
many years and a small fortune to
qualify. Nursing? 1t is hard work III
paid, and none but the strongest can
stand it. What would you have them
do then, Admiral? Sit down and
starve?"
Tut, tut, 1t is not so bad as that"
1.-THE pressure is terrible. Advertise
for lady companion at ten shillings
week, which is less than cooks wage,
and see how many answers you get
There is no hope, no outlook, for these
struggling thousands Life is dull,
sordid struggle, leading down to
cherries old age. Yet when we try to
bring some little ray of hope, some
chance, however distant, of something
better we are told by chivalrous gen
tlemen that it is against their princi-
pies to help
The Admiral WINGED, but shook his
head in dissent.
There is banking, the law, veterin-
airy surgery, government offices, the
civil service, all these at least should
be thrown freely open to women, II
they have brains enough to compete
successfully for them. Then if woman
were unsuccessful it would be her own
fault, and the majority of the popula-
ton of this country could no longer
complain that they live under differ
ent law to the minority, and that they
are held down in poverty and serfdom,
with every road to independence sealed
10 them"
what would you propose to do.
ma amp"
ITO set the more obvious injustices
right, and so to pave the way for re-
form. Now look at that man digging
in the field 1 know him. He can
neither read nor write, he is stepped in
whisky, and he has as much intelli-
gence as. the potatoes that he is dig
ging. Yet the man has vote, can pos
sibly turn the scale of an election, and
may help to decide the policy of this
empire. Now, to take the nearest ex-
ample, here am I, a woman, who have |
had some educat ton, who have Travelled,
and who have seen and studied the in
situations of many countries. l hold
property, and I pay more
in imperial taxes than that man spends /
In whisky, which is saying great deal, |
and yet have no more direct influence
upon the disposal of the money which /
I pay than the fly which creeps along |
the wall. Is that right? Is it fair?'
The Admiral moved uneasily in his /
chair Yours is an exceptional case"
said he
but no woman has a voice. Consider |
that the women are a majority in the
nation Yet if there was a question of |
legislation upon which all women were !
agreed upon one side and all the men
upon the other, 1t would appear that |
the matter was settled unanimously /
when more than half the population |
were opposed to 1t. Is that rfght?"
Again the Admiral wriggled. It was
very awkward for the gallant seaman
to have . handsome woman Opposite