The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-03-07
For the Momen.

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uncertain waters of matrimony without
q great hue and cry being raised. There
IS always some garrulcus and impudent
reformer to declare that the unmarried
men and women are enemies Of society,
'lmperiling the future of the race" and
offering menace to the national life"
More attention might be paid. with prof
II to the more serious problem of the
multiplication of the unfit At worst the
fault of the childless man or woman is
q neEatiVe fault and it may even be
construed as a negative virtue Better
a thousand times no children than too
many children-Weak, sickly, neglected
children. reared in poverty and suffering
crime.
Marriage and maternity is the rule for
woman but there have always been no
bic exceptions, women whose highest
duty demanded that they renounce these
ana 1--we alone and childless. But to pre-
tend that because circumstances have
combined to debar a woman from mat
rlmony her life is q failure IS so palpa-
piy absurd that it reflects upon the UNI
OenlaDle good sense OF the author of
the Woman Who Tolls. Nyifehood and
motherhood may be the highest privil-
eyes OF her sex but they are not the
only ones. We do not 50 restrict mans
eapa bilitIes and possibilities Why WO
man s? Is woman not a human being
nIst and woman afterwards Will
lam Allen White says that the mating
season is but a phase of mans exist
ence. Then why not of WOman's2 Says
Mrs. Humphrey Ward: The heart can
be silenced VIII and
idea remain-the eternal spectacle Of
the world and the eternal thirst of man
TO see. to know, to feel. TO realize him
self, il not in one passion, then in an
Other-if not in love then in patriotism,
art, thought" And again: Love is but
one passion of many
except to the duh and foolish girl for
whom q love affair represents the only
stirring in the pool OF life that she is
ever likely to know"
All the deeds and accomplishments of
the unmarried women OF all time cry
out against the absurd and unjust
charge of the futihty of her existence.
If she has not borne children she has, as
Robert Burdette points out, helped 10
care for those born and neglected OF
others. TO lead and to comfort 70
help and TO heal the sick world that
leans on her" IS the mission of the I'M
married woman Somebody has said
that old maids are women who Sacrl-
fee the JOY of having children of their
own in order that they may care Tor
other peoples
Some Of the newest of the dotted fou-
lards, whose popularity Of former sea-
sons seems not to have abated in the
Slightest. show rather bizarre designs.
Some of the smaller dots are encircled
by ring Of another color, giving
pretty play Of tints when the shades are
well chosen. Other dots as large as q
quarter of a dollar are seen, and this is
one of the most striking of the new
pa LternS- &aFd wide toulardS are an.
other novelty of the season. Many of
these stylish little costumes are COM
bined with the coarse Yak or torchOh
lace so much in vogue. and almost all
Of them are made in shirt waist style
with skirts escaping the ground.
Newer than burnt wood, rafna work
or any of the other handicraft fads for
women. IS the artistic bent iron work
WITH which our homes now threaten to.
be deluged. Jardinieres, chafing dishes.
lamps, candlesucks and an innumerable
variety of other articles are made by
the devotees to this new fad.
A certain young matron in Topeka has
recently finished q beautiful and elab-
crate embroidered shirt waist in the
popular Mount Melliclz stitches and
there IS such rush of all her friends
to see it that she has set apart an after
noon Of each week on which her shirt
waist viii be on exhibit. She calls il
her shirt waists jour de reception
The present popularity Of white for all
occasions demonstrates again the truth
that all history is a repetition. Just
century ago white was the height OF
mode N winter as Wen as summer and
on the street as well as indoors. All
later traditions of collars and fabrics
set aside for special occasions have been
upest during the past year. The thin
nest and lightest materials are now used
lndiscrIminate ly for all sorts of purposes
and white promises to be the almos-
universal wear by the time spring is
here. Another old, old fashion which
promises to be revived IS the use OF
flnly Indian muslin, which was the
chosen wear of modish women a CEN