The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1906-04-24

ners is set by the strongest OF the
class. and in the case of the more
sensitive it is very deceptive. Simple,
downright, and very we'll assured in
demeanor, the type Of professional
woman whom the others have elected
to set up for outward imitation looks
neither backwards nor forwards, and
knows neither apprehension nor re-
yret. She goes straight on her strenu-
Gus way, getting through an admir-
able amount of conscientious work,
and deriving much pleasure from ad-
miring its volume. But behind the
same manner hides a weaker sister,
whose conscience wears her more than
her tasks, who is never without a
scruple or a remorse, and who, if it
were possible, would make consclen-
tiousness ridiculous. She would be
truly deserving Of pity if she did not
repeal it by the fact that she is SEEM
inglv a little vain Of her weakness
(long ago women were vain in the
same way Of cowardice and helpless
ness), if she did not at times mistake
constitutional difficulty Of decision
for moral sense Of exceptional
nicely.
We have all heard a great. deal Of
the professional woman who desires
to be like a man. She exists, but she
is not very common, though she con-
trives to make some show upon COM
mittees. All her sisters recognize and
detest her at once. The odd thing is
that it is upon men that she makes
at first sight an impression Of busi-
ness ability, and when she succeeds,
she succeeds by their help. For her
every discussion is a fight, every con-
cession a sacrifice Of principle. She
is most dangerous item in any large
common understanding, especially If
both sexes are engaged in the same
work. She will risk any cause for the
sake of appearing hard-headed, and
forego the essentials Of any victory
for the sake of verbal "socre.'
Perhaps the best type Of profession
al woman is the one who has passion
for dealing with her fellow-creatures
and their affairs. She may be a doc
tor, or she may belong to any Of the
professions open to women which re-
ouire her to come into intimate con-
tact with a constant stream Of people.
She is less limited than the majority
of her professional sisters. She Ell"
ters into the normal lives Of the peo-
ple. she works for so completely as to
pply something lacking in her own.
Her work absorbs her entirely. She
finds in it her only recreation.
Interest in other people, whether
concentrated in her devotion to hus-
band and children, or diffused among
friends and clients, is, after all, the
natural interest for woman, and no
more feminine character could be
found than the one we are depicting.
Standing always in the whirl Of small
human affairs she learns to be ever on
the alert to help up those whom the
;ncalculable cross-currents consplre 10
overthrow. and she comes to forget
herself ALTOGETHER. For the sake OF
her work she will make the last fem
mime sacrifice, and take without
complaint blame which properly BE-
longs to some one else. Her heart
goes out to every man, woman or
child to whom she can be OF any use
or consolation. Pity and love become
in her not merely akin, but identical.
She is over-indulgent to the weakness
es Of humanity. NotnlnS could ledo
her to neglect friend but his OF her
continued excellence and prosperity.
Perhaps in an ideal state of society
there would be no professional women,
or not enough to form anything which
could be called class. But we are
long way from any ideal state, and it
is certain that the professional woman
is q good outcome-a far better one
than her great-aunt-of inevitable
circumstances. At her worst, though
disagreeable. she is not desplcaole
character; and at her best she has no
faults, except her virtues.