The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1904-06-04
WOMAN.

WOMAN.
"Earth's noblest thing, woman
perfected Lowell.
In tho last few centuries woman
has obtained a higher place in the es.
timation Of man than she formerly
had Shakespeare depicted several
beautiful characters in his plays. Por
tia always excites admiration. She
assumed the part of man but was
WHhal womanly
Wordsworth in his Phantom OF De
light" gives one an idea in what es
dmation an English poet held wo'
man:
she was a phantom Of delight
When first she cleaned upon my
sight;
A lovely apparltion sent
70 be a moments ornament,
Her eyes as stars of twilight fair,
Like twilight's, too, her dusky hair
But all things else about her drawn
From May-time AMI the cheerful
dawn;
A dancing shape, an image fair,
| To haunt, to startle, and waylay.
| saw her upon nearer view,
A spirit. yet a woman too.
| Her household motions light and free
| And steps Of virgin liberty,
| A countenanee in which did meet
| Sweet records, promises as sweet
| A creature not too bright or good
For human natures daily food;
| For transient sorrows. simple wiles,
Praise blame, love, kisses, tears and
smiles
And now see with eyes serene
! The very pulse of a machine,
! A being breathing thoughtful breath
A traveller between life and death
The reason firm, the temperate Will,
! Endurance, foresight, strength ant
skill
A perfect woman, nobly planned,
To warn. to comfort. AMI to command
Ana yet spirit still and bright.
| With something of angelic light.
ThiJ a part of his description of hi
wife, and may be compared with Ten
nyson's description of his mothe
from the last part of the seventh booI
of "The Princess"
"Yet there was one thro' whom ! low
her. one
Not learned save in gracious house
hold ways,
Not perfect. nay, but full of tende
wants,
No angel, but a dear being, all dip
In angel instincts, breathing Paradise
Interpreter between the Gods an
men,
Who lookd all native to her place
! aud yet
On tiptoe seem'd to touch upon
sphere,
Too gross to tread, and all male mind
} perforce
= Sway'd TO her from their orbits a
, they moved.
And glrded her with music. Happy b
With such a mother! Faith in W,
s mankind ,.
} Beats with blood, and trust in a
= things high
/. Comes easy TO him. and tho he fri
{ ana fall
r He shall not blind his soul with clay
s Scott In his "Marmion" depicts II
q sympathetic character of woma
+ Clara de Clare despises Marmion, yC
= when he is wounded and address,
!. her. she forgct3 her hatred and trit
o to stlunch mis- wounds II is then TIN
i he speaks these words to her:
s "oh woman, In our hour of ease
4 Uncertain, coy and hard to please,
|. Ana variable as the shade
e IS he ligAt qliivering aspen made;
o When pain and anguish wiring n
9 brow,
A ministering angel thou"
# Burns gives us an idea Of his OPT
n ion of woman in the four followil
: lines:
And Nature swears the lovely dea
o Her noblest work she classes, O
II Her prentice hand she tried on M
IL All then she made the lasses. o!
O. When we think OF Longfell0v
e beautiful character Evangeline,
3 feel like applying a quotation ire
)f Sonihey TO her: What will not y
j. man. gentle woman. dare. when stro
j affection stirs her spirit up?"
IL Tie Irish author and poet, Eaton