The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1908-11-20

10 10 so NtNll ne 10 MAKE HNstil Ia
tally undressing; to do so, would be
ruinous TO my chances for n place in
Mrs. LouGhccd's esteem. or course. |
| could rcCaut on the spot and be con
verted to her opinion, but | had con
| scientious scruplcs against attempt
ing this. because really had nothing
to rccant. But something had to be
said. so | plunged desperately in.
"Onc doesn't like to think that our
fcmininity is Of so superficial quality
that it can be rubbed off merely by &C.
quaintance with the world Surely
those who lose II so easily must have
lacked the genuine sort to begin with ="
! knew this wasn't right. and my
opinion was supported by a sort Of
perplcXcd GOODNESS beginning to dawn
on Mrs. LouGheeds expressive coun.
tenanCe, so began again lowering my
voice to a more confidential key
Il have sometimes wondered what a
woman should do who found herself
possessed Of some power or capacity
really valuable to the wOrld-some
great artistic gift or intellectual in.
sight; for nature Is unfortunately SO
impartial, you know; she is just as
apt to bcstow her gifts upon a woman
as upon a man II there were no
home ties to settle the question in
such case there would still be the
injurious effect Of the example upon
other women, wouldn't there? Rosa
Bonhcur, for instance, and Florence
Nightingale and-and Nine. Curie"
or course, | knew this was all
wrong, too, but | saw with relief that
Mrs. Loughoed only looked "A little
vague.
"Oh, suppose there are excep.
lions, she said obviously When a
thing is suitable it is different. There
are the refined arts music and litcra.
turc-that women can pursue If they
have leisure"
But even then" | exclaimed with
secret joy. How often even In
these arts must We dcplorc the loss
# that dnIicary which Is womans
chief charm Carcno, for example. and
Nordica, who has just been divorced,
.uu know, and what a disastrous cf
feet the pursuit Of literature had upon
he character OF poor George Eliot"
Mrs. Loughood looked wagner sull,
md began feeling around in her mind
for the bread of the argument which
had somehow slipped out Of her grasp
Failing to recover it. she ignored the
point n issue, aud-truc to type
brought forth another, detached. but
which had evidently done much faith
ml service atorctimc
BESIDES It is such n mistake from
an economic standpoint for women to
compete with men as wage.carncrs. It
is only taking the bread out Of the
mouths Of other women and little
children"
"liut / suppose those who don't see
it as We do, dear Mrs LouEhecd." |
said, with delicious little emphasis
on the we, and especially those who
fail to look at it in large impersonal
way. might say that the first duty Of
these women was to iii their own
mouths. Many of them may not only
have no one to earn for them. but have
others depending on what they can
earn"
The men would have higher wages
then. and there would be no need OF
women going ont" continued Mrs
Luughecd, who liked to feel the whole
weight of the argument under her
feet
Yes. If only It would be equally dis.
tributcd" | said III we could only
persuade the men who earn to share
with those who don't how it would
simplify things; and II only we could
persuade the manufacturers not TO en-
ploy women at all, They are really
to blame, you know, too, and they keep
advertising for more all the time
Don't you think we could get the Ma
tional council to take 1t up?"
Mrs. Loughecd began fastening up
her furs. rose with her, still pre-.
serving my deferential attitude.
The home Is womans natural and
divinely'appointed sphere" she said,
conclusively. ana with a shade of in.
jury in her t9ne, which | thought un.
justifiable, considering that we were
on the same side Of the argument
There are women who work Just be
cause they like to and want to. They
don't know how unattractve they
make themselves or they would not dc
1t. Men do not like the kind OF WON.
en- who ignore the home"
They may not have been so happy
In 1t as you and l. and so we can well
afford to spare little pity for them,"
| said again, In my winningest way.
"Ah, yes, poor things!' replied Mrs.
Lougheed, giving me tho parting hand.
| washed the palms after she had
gone, and reflected. felt in very good
spirits. OF course, knew 1t was real
ly Mr. Lougheed | had been arguing
with, and felt avenged for more than
one bad quarter Of an hour he had
given me, when he had called for, and
| had unwittingly responded with, my
utmost vacuity of mind. | used to
A.. I