The Washington bee., 1903-01-31

/ matt SCAs
What would Sparta have done but
for the courage OF her women. TIE
history of her bravery is Unparalleled
1t suTPasseS that of modern times. She
reared her boys for The Army and al
the tender age of ten were sent tc
military schools and put under the
most rigid laws, suffering untold priva
! tons. Exposed TO all kinds Of weather
and as soon as they were old enough
10 fAht were sent out with these words
from the lips of their mother, return
with your shields or upon them :"
Such courage was heralded all over
this mundane sphere, 1t was impreg
| mated III her progeny. Ii helped to
| give them place in history.
| The 18TH century marks an import
ant epoch in the history OF women. We
| all know what effect the reign of queen
| Victoria had upon her subjects. she
was reveTed, honOTed, and loved by all
for her many sterling qualities, her
tine sense ol justice. Dealing fairly
| by all England, prOspered as IL never
had uetore since the reign OF Eliza
beth.
In our own country the foremost
woman other time in literary circles
was Harriet BeeCher Stowe 10 whose
memory The colored people are great
ful, she is The author OF Uncle Tom s
cabin one of the greatest books of its
time. And today public interest is
alive in il. I,s contents were read by
nearly every nation in Europe II be
ing translated into II different tongues
including Chinese and japanese. In
our own country the circulation
amounted 70 $4,000 copies n four
years
Il was in my judgement the most
formidable weapon ever welded
against tie Obominable institution Of
slavery. That books helped 10 stir
mems nature 10 a sense of justice, and
right. Il created in them a desire TO
help their less fortunate sisters and
brothers. Which desire eliminated
an the Civil War and the liberation of
three milliOn sous. All honor TO the
memory of Harriet BeeCher Stowe.
She will live IN the hearts OF our peo
pie as long as the world stands.
Contemparaneous SiIh her their
came upon the stage of action sno'he
grand and noble character who went
hand in hand with our Douglass to
champion the cause of Women's rights
socially, legally, politically. She knew
no race color or creed. This woman
was the E zbeth Cady Stanton 1t was
she who forced man from his pinnacle
of sell conceit to AT least give woman
Trial in the administration of his
affairs aside from household dutiesS
With the result that they have filled
positions assigned TO them CredtablY.
They occupy along with man positions
under the United States Government,
and are at work in nearly every walk
of life
We see them as members of the bar
pTaCtiCinE IN the courts Of justice. We
see them as trustees of schools, ripe
with Culture and wisdom. We see
them as nurses on the battle field
ministerirg angles, We also see them
as DoctTesses. SeulptTesses, as artists
and we see them plotting boats upon
our waters. And even in the pulpit
new field open 10 them durIng the last
half of the 18th century.
I'll honor TO the memory OF the late
Elizabeth Cady Stanton she lived
long 10 enjoy the blessings of God,
and OF allthOse who have been bsfited
nv having such privileges accorded
them.
Among our most prominent women
Of today, are Miss Matte Bowen a
woman Of remarkable executive ability
and enterprise. Already her influence
for doing good IS being felt among
our people. Mrs. Rosetta Lawson,
doing great work in the Temperance
field, Mrs. Julia Layton one OF the
most self densying of woman who is
doing a great charitable work in the
DisIrct by administering comfort and
CneeT in the homes ofthe unfOTtunates.
he churches today owe great deal
of their prosperity TO the strength and
given them by women. l can
especially say so of this church. She
is progressing spiritually, and fnan
Cialiy,
AsI.have said before. we Oweit to So
Ciety TO contribute 10 it what talent we
have by which some one may be bene-
l., your light shine" God has com
fitted manded Ofus. But how often some
of Us through The bane of SeliIShneSS
and Conceit, COnfne ourselves, within
or surrounded ourselves bv
the chain of society or o. Z chosen clt n
because we see Ia them au affinity OF
a hkness to ourselves IN characteristics
opinions and our own way OF entertain
ng, THIS IS hurIiul as IL detraCtS
rom our moral and mental growth and
lone Hence we become narrow mind
ga and bigoteds
We must come In contact with the
people mIngle with them If we wish
% acquire knowledge and enrich our
mental faculties Remember The
world is our greatest school OF knOwl-
edge ana il has an ineXhausuble
supply.
What an inspiring influence is
brought to bear when we come III con
ACT or associate with the patient
thrifty and honest exslaVe We see IN
hem all the elements of success. And
rom them we learn a valuable lesson
n way slngularly unprotentlons and
for it is taught by the moral
orce of good example rather than by
he vain repetition of hackneyed pre-
,epts. So is that we see IN the prog
.ny of these people such men of world
vide repute S Fred Douglass, VIM.
Wells Brown, Henry Highland Gar