The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1909-09-02

of To-Day Influenced Ey Her Dress.
1t is hard to believe that at this
late day there are those who, being
sorely perturbed in mind ask uueas.
lily, Should woman speak in public?"
and straightway the old wolf cries
Of "boldness-vanity- woman unsCX.
ed" rise upon the air. All la-lala,
Some of woman's rights came to her
after long waiting; some she worked
hard for. and some she asked for
prettily; but the right of free and un.
limited speech was seized for her
away back in Eden, when Eve filed
with light, chattering persiilage the
long silences left by Adams heavy,
slow moving tongue; and since she
practices free speech by right Of pre-.
cedent-so why not let her speak in
public?
OF course the public is human
and should not be caused needless
suffering, so that a woman with moth.
ing to say should really not be per.
mitted to climb upon a platform and
say 1t at agonizing length. But when
the thinking woman sincerely believes
she has a message to deliver. or
promising plan to offer for the better.
ment of those who are in sore need
Of help-then 'in Gods name" let
her speak as publicly as she pleases!
d-vain-unseXed!" Oh. la-la.
la! What nonsense. The woman
who becomes a good public speaker
learns to think more clearly. reason
more closely; ceases to converse al.
most wholly in adjecdves; conquers
the inclination to describe her hat as
perfectly grand" broken side-comb
as perfectly awful" a headache as
terrific" and Niagara as Just too
sweet fcr words" so you see a WON.
an can benefit herself by public speak.
ing.
1t is surprising how the publc's
| judgment as to the propriety or i'm
propriety of the woman, who dares. is
| influenced by the suitability OF her
| toilet, and her personal attractive
ness while daring. The most eloquent
! fouted, jeered and condemned If she
presented herself on the platform in
| bloomer or some other reform raj.
ment, such as common sense shoes
weight all from the shoulders
| health-waist, without bones, etc. etc"
| No, no! Woman must first please the
eye, then the public will lend her their
| AhoI ,r-fth yi,ri,
their hearts. Have you seen her?
Have you sat in front and waited the
| coming of some woman, who is to
speak against cruel wrong, or plead
for the passing of some new law; and
no one cared very much, and every
one was indifferent and cool? And
! then she comes rather hurriedly into
view; charmingly gowned, a big,
plumy hat, making soft, shadowy
frame for FURNISHED hair, and flush
ing and paling face, q touch of rose
ointment on her lips-because excite.
ment drys and pales and cracks them.
A little ripple of applause greets this
satisfactory first view. She lays some
notes on the desk or table; her hand
| lItulUltS, she SlIllNS ulltdollg IL YIN OlS
foot to the other. Then the hand sud.
denly goes up to the nape Of her neck
and nervously feels for any escaping
scolding,lock. Then she smiles, a
shamed, deprecating little smile, and
every heart thumps Understandings;
every face smiles back. hands clap
cheerily, ana every one is ready and
willing now 10 listen earnestly. And
II, by and by, should feeling get the
upper hand of calm argument, and a
mist come into her eyes, and little
tremble to her lips, so that white
teeth bite down hard on 1t for a mo
ment-why it only wins sympathy for
her cause, and people will say, "How
much it means to her!" Il must
look into this thing-she may be
right" and there you are!
Is she unsexed by an hours earnest
talk to a listening crowd-who CAM
talk back? That being the only diff
ference between public speaking ant
private argument La-la! The ques
ton is not, Should woman speak II
public ?"-but, how the dickens are
you going to stop her? And whC
wants to, so long as she looks wei
| adding It?