The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1908-11-26

happiness of being In their own
homes"
"Ah, yes, poor things!" said Mrs.
Lougheed quite affably. But 1t is
pity when woman thinks herself
called upon to take up anything to do
any sort of work, you know,-out-
side the home-she always loses some
thing OF her femininity; don't you
think?"
Il suppose so,' faltered miserably.,
III knew l was expected 10 have
views" and to support them Not
to do so would be to rake myself fa.
tally uninteresting; to GJ so, would be
r'Iinous to my chances for a place in
Mrs, Lougheed's esteem. OF course,
could recant on the spot and be con
verted to her opinion, but had con
scientious scruples against attempt
ing this, because | really had nothing
to recant. But something had to be
said, so plunged desperately in.
Zone doesn't like to think that our
femininity is of so superficial quality
that 1t can be rubbed off merely by ac-
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
perplexed coldness beginning to dawn
on Mrs Lougheed's expressive coun-
tenance, so I began again, lowering my
voice to a more confidential key.
81 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 toibestow her gifts upon a woman
as upon a man. II there were no
| home ties to settle the question in
/ such case there would stiIl be the
! injurious effect of the example upon
other women, wouldn't there? Rosa
Bonheur, for instance, and Florence
! Nightingale, and--and Nine. Curie."
or course, knew this was all
wrong, too, but saw with relief that
Mrs. Lougheed only looked a little
/ vague.
"Oh, suppose there are excep.
| tions," she said obviously. when a
/ thing is suitable IL is different. There
are the refined arts-music and litera-
ture-that women can pursue If they
have leisure"
But even them" l exclaimed with
| a secret Joy. How often even in
these arts must we deplore the loss
of that delicacy which is womans
chief charm-Careno, for example, and
| Nordica, who has Just been divorced,
you know, and what a disastrous eff.
| feet the pursuit of literature had upon
the character OF poor George Eliot"
Mrs. Lougheed looked vaguer still,
and began feeling around in her mind
for the thread of the argument which
had somehow slipped out of her grasp.
Failing to recover 1t, she ignored the
point at issue, and-true to type
brought forth another, detached, but
which had evidently done much faith
full service aforetime.
Besides II is such a mistake from
an economic standpoint for women to
compete with men as wage-earners. II
is only taking the bread out of the
mouths of other women and little
children"
But / suppose those who don't see
II as we do, dear Mrs. Lougheed,"
said, with delicious little emphasis
on the "we," "and especially those who
fail to look at II in large, impersonal
way, might say that the first duty OF
these women was to All 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 out" continued Mrs
Lougheed, who liked to feel the whole
weight OF the argument under her
feet 1 WI
Yes, II only II would be equally dis
tributed," ] said. III we could only
persuade the men who earn to share
with those who don't, how II would
simplify things; and II only we coult
persuade the manufacturers not to EN-
pioy women at all! They are really
to blame, you know, too. and they keel
advertising for more all the time
Don't you think we could get the Ma
tional council 20 take 1t up?"
Mrs. Lougheed began fastening M
her furs. / rose with her, still pre-
serving my deferential attitude.
THE home is womans natural ant
divinely-appointed sphere" she said
conclusively, and with shade of In
jury in her tone, which thought I'm
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. The!
don't know how unattractiye the!
make themselves or they would not dt
IT, Men do not like the kind Of won
en- who ignore the home"
"They may not have been so happ!
in II as you and |, and so We can wei
afford to spare little pity for them,
said again, in my winningest way.
, "Ah, yes. poor things!" replied Mrs
Lougheed, giving me the parting hand
washed the palms after she ha'
. gone, and reflected felt in very goo,
H.