The Cairo bulletin., 1905-07-23
A
CONVERSATION
EMILY FRANCES SMITH

miss HETT was on for Converse
iNI ton. She is the president of the
Brain and Muscle club. an organization
devoted to the emancipation and higher
education of woman. When question
arises that has to be decided right. at
one session. Miss Hett disposes of 1t In
Conversation.
A club Conversation" Is begun by the
person introducing 1t, punctuated by
questions and interrupted by discus
sions pertinent and impertinent, and
terminated by the woman who has the
last word.
Miss Hett arose and took off her
glasses. The members assumed atti-
tudes Of pleased attention. She began
For several years the Brain and Mus.
Gle club has noticed that just preceding
the first of May the subject: Woman
her work and her wage breaks out all
over town in spots no larger than Chi
cago"
why the first of May?" asked Miss
Thomas.
Presumably because that is moving
time volunteered Miss Peppert
Anyway, 1t begins a movement"
Il wonder" remarked Miss Palette, a
new member arising, II wonderland
she was seized with stage fright and sat
down
I'VE all dc" agreed several, sympa-
thetically
The president looked triflc annoyed
There has been much comment In the
public press and elsewhere, arising ou,
ri the question: Shall a woman work
II SO. why? II not, why not? What for ?
What's the use2'"
i want to tell you what Harry said,
interrupted the little bride as she had
SO often done before that 'Harry's" OBJ.
seryaf1ons had ceased to be popular
She collapsed before battery of hostile
glances, and the president ignored her
ut is much easier to say what should
be than what must be, con tinued Miss
Hett e
That's what tell Harry" said the
little bride, getting up again. The
ladies looked interested The bride bill
her lips and sat down.
Miss Hett put on her glasses. "a
woman's natural sphere is the homo
and a natural woman prefers it, but
home is not always available, nor is
It always an alternative of choice"
Il beg TO submit that it is wholly a
question OF choice with most women
objected Miss Peppert a suffragist who
had passed her first youth She ap
peared to be offended
"A woman may be Obliged" argued
Miss Hett, ITO enter the commercial
arena to win sustenanee for depend
ents, or, more fortunately to secure hei
own maintenance. Whatever worthy
motive may force or induce her to be
come bread winner, she Immediately
becomes target for cepsure II she il
earning large salary"
Harry says that women don't carr
salaries: they receive them, put in thf
little bride.
your husband has made represen
tative statement" said the president
I'VE will say, then, that II woman Il
receiving a large salary, it is claimed
that she is depriving an actual ant
would-be head OF a family of its onl,
and legitimate means Of support. IL sh'
Is receiving a small salary, 1t is urge,
that the fact Of her doing so Is tend
ing to reduce the wage scale. On tn
other hand, II she receives no salary a
all, and Is cheerfuIly dependent upon
male relative, she Is pointed out as
domestic barnacle and the victim o
her alleged selflHhneEs becomes an oh
Ject Of solicitous sympathy. In eithe
case, 1t Is wondered that she doesn'
get out Of the way by getting married
and usually when she can, she does, an
wants to; but there are instances wher
she doesn't want to. and has quixoti
notion that behind marriage Their
should be sentiment noblor than tn
desire to better her condition and ad
to her later years the dignity Of matron
hood. What is poor woman goin
to DOR
Everybody" murmured Miss DIG
Waite a stenographer.
There IL no indignity In being III
married." protested Miss Peppert.
am sure shall not think SO when al
Older
Even If woman be not scnsitiv
about her age" said the presiden
beaming mildly upon Miss Pepper
"and would enter matrimony as nj
would any other business CONTRACT
Mrs. Van Bib raped pencil on
book, 1T Is r,Se Of this honorab
body that no member indulge In pc
sonalities." She focused a meanin
md malicious glance upon Mrs. Hearst
ono Of the principals In pending d
vorce suit, and lqskcd comfortably re
lievcd.
True replied Miss Hett, y sha'
have 70 impose upon you the rlaximul