Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1907-08-29
W0MAN'S INFLUENCE.

have often thought of the power of
young woman's influence in society
for good morals and higher degree Of
Christianity and TO forward the mis-
sion cause Of Christianity.
l first notice that young woman
primitive moral influence is pure glad
ness, dwelling in the sight of God, but
the glory was outcast and the happy
inmates are seen hiding among the fol-
iage of the garden of Eden, afraid be-
cause they have violated law divine.
They sinned because woman had de-
cided they would. At first we see
woman can lead man even into sin.
They go forth as sinners cursed, with
the gates of Eden closed behind them
l choose few prominent examples to
show the force and influence of wom-
an. Cleopatra illustrates a large class
of her kind in history, having the
ability to wreck the lives of men.
There was once a man who was
great statesman and warrior. He could
command an army He welded the
government of one of the greatest en-
pires of earth, but this beautiful, sin
full woman subdued him and brought
him to her feet. The same woman
sent the brave and brilliant Antony to
ruin and then followed him. Turning
a moment from the horrid accomplish
ment Of ruin by the feminine charmers
in moment behold the worlds idol
emerging from the mists of obscurity,
dazzling the earth with his splendor.
When France was down and bleeding
the English had invaded the most of her
Ia1 I.,y. Ill
drilled veterans. The dauphin was a
refugee and another had been proclaim
ed king. The bravest French marshals
were discouraged, the armies broken
and shattered. In the remote village
of Domremy there lived little maid
afterwards called the maid of Orleans,
poor and simple, ignorant. She cared
for her father sheep and cows, trust
ing in God. She knew nothing of the
rules of war
Look at those armies marching I'M
der the commander in chief-a girl of
10. That dauphin puts his crown and
himself into her hands and soon the
English are retiring from Orleans.
This was accomplished by a godly
woman. But France had a different
experience by woman-that wicked,
cruel and unprincipled Florentine, who
with the Duke of Guise, plotted the
massacre of st. Bartholomew, when
thousands fell in one night and the
rivers of France ran blood
| This is but glance at women as a
power for good or bad. | wish to
speak of something more practical. In
the bounds and experience OF us all, it
is certain fact that young women
most determine the standard of morals
in society. Young men are not going
to do it. 1t is all with the girls to say
what the moral standard wi be. | am
now prepared to say whatever stand
ard, moral or immoral, the young
women set, the young men will come
to it. This is alarming but it is the
truth. have seen the ideals of young
men lowered by the actions of young
girls known as respectable. They see
those young bellies go to places which
they think beyond the boundary line of
woman's virtue, or to say, dangerous
ground Every downward step bunts
the moral perceptions and makes a
: young man less scrupulous and darkens
his vision of virtue, by seeing a
young woman winkiug at immoral
practices, by socially tolerating him,
by keeping company, walking the road
and buggy riding with dudes to balls
and parties, or seeing young women in
the embrace of young men who are
dipping in vice which the girls know
of.
l believe in man standing ON his
merits. If girls would set up a high
standard of good morals and not keep
company with young man that plays
cards, gets drunk or is guilty of vic
ious habits, it would be well. When
the girls set this standard the boys
will go to it. l know girls that stood
/ high in society to go with boy and
he plum full of whiskey, get in bug
gy with him. hold him up and take
him home. am now talking about
fiirtS and society girls. | don mean
all girls l have known such girls TO
sit up to the card table with such fell
lows, when their breath was as offens-
i've with whiskey as barrel unbung
ed in your face, and cali this social
game, girls that are members of tine
church Now, who is responsible for
such astandard Of morals. | believe
/ in social equality in morals. | called
a nice young lady's attention to this.
She was an orphan. She thought there
was no boy for her to keep company
with told her if she would set up
a standard and make it rule not to
keep company except with the best of
J young men her company would be
sought by the purest and best of
young men. Now, young ladies, put
on my glasses a few minutes and try TO
see as your uncle does. 1t is better to
90 this than to shake hands with some
vicious young man and have your life
blighted and spend the rest of your
days nagging at some man, trying to
keep him ont of the pit.
Tatesville, Tenn. WATCHMAN
Praise for Brown.