Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1906-12-01
'. oman: Her Duties.

Never in the worlds history was
woman's position equal to what it is
now i'll America.
Our advancing civilization has eX-
tended her rights, enlarged her sphere,
sublimated her ideas, made her sur
roundings more congenial, her educa-
ton more thorough and her spiritual de-
velopment broader.
Thousands, it is true, are still bear
ing heavy burdens and are pricked with
smartlng needles.
Shallow-hearted men there are still,
low-hearted men, who cannot appre-
ciate the eXcelencies of her character,
or overlook the faults of her ineXperi-
ence.
Thousands of woIhen are still under
the power of selfish, bad men. under
whom woman is placed i'll different re-
lations of life-everything that goes
wrong is imputed to her, and her silent
but diligent eXertiOn to make every
thing go right is unobserved.
Thousands there are still who are be
ing dragged down to woe, misery and
want but Notwithstanding all this, our
age is one of sunshine to women, when
compared with the dark ages and even
compared with woman's condition III
many parts of Europe today, where
she is nothing more than Il beast OF
burden, denied education and complete
ly subordinated to her husband. she
lives in fear of aud subsection to her
lord and master.
This is truly woman's age and Amer
lea her opportunity.
BY all the fears of the oppressed
women of the past. this age has come
with its homes, its achievements, its
education and its advantages.
One hundred years ago there was not
Il VfsTA a
been written by a woman; today many
of the most famous writers are women.
One hundred years ago there was not
one college in the world exclusively Tor
women, but today hundreds might be
named, richly endowed, splendidly
equipped and ably managed.
In the age past woman was considered
at best a doll to be dressed. a thing to be
admired, but by the majority house
hold drudge.
And as woman has been lifted, society
has been elevated.
The world would not be what it is
today but for such women as these.
whose names might be multiplied indetl-
nitely: Teachers as Mary Lyon and
Maria Mitchell; speakers as Frances
Willard and Susan b. Anthony; writers
as Harriet Beecher Stowe and Elizabeth
Barrett Browning: philanthrOplStS as
Clara Barton and Mrs. Darlington
Booth
In view of womans opportunities.
what are her duties? Briefly:
To thoroughly educate herself. 30
to college if possible. Your lives are
just as earnest your duties as important
and your opportunities for doing good
as great as those of men.
Let your training be the kind that
develops the mind, trains the hand, dis
ciplines the nerves and strengthens the
body for the practical duties Of life.
Remember that the best diploma is
way for the woman who can bring
things to pass.
Even if You are quite sure that you
won't have to make your own way IN
the world. education viii double your
joys as it certainly will. if of the prac-
teal sort, double your efficiency as
worker
Acquire a thirst for knowledge.
BE fond Of the best kind Of reading
and do read something besides love sto-
ries and female adventures.
Covet to enrich your minds with the
treasures dug up and distributed IN such
abundance in this wonderful age. Cul-
tivate your Judgment. Be inquisitive
reflective, discriminating.
am not all for Doric strength. but
argue also for Ionic grace and CORN
THAN elegance.
| am not such a rigid utlitarian.
would not have you lay down your pen
ell. leave your Piano untouched and your
grammar of foreign languages unleaTned.
but let it not be said of you that while
YOU are quite learned in the literature
Of the day you know nothing Of house
hold affairs.
1t is the perfection of womanly charac-
ter to look well to the ways of her
household" BoolishnesS can never take
the place of comfort ut home.
How attractive 10 see well-informed.
accomplished woman. beloved by h"r
husband rs his intelligent companion
and counsellor, esteemed by her guests
and looked mp to with confidence. rever-
ence and affection by her children. over
Whcse general education size preSldts
with dignity and ability.
Do something.
Enter some business or prepare for
some profession; anything Is better than
to become a fashionable woman of so
ciety.
No matter in how comfortable cir
cumstances your parents may be, the
rich OF today are often tomorrow poor.
master some one thing, 10 matter what.
BE prepared. if necessary, to make your
services valuable somewhere. Know
something Of what Burns was pleased
10 call the glorioHs privilege of being
independent"
How calmly then would you be able
10 face misfortune
You would not be compelled To marry
for living. or be burden taken of the
hands o. parents
If you married at all it would be he
cause Won couldn't help it: il would be
a marriage of convenience; not a so
ciety affair. but very likely union on
equal terms. free and glad surrender
Of the heart
kuoyyIcsl,ra in tho seiancns of Ia l-a-