The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1909-01-19

views" and TO support them. Not
to do so would be to make myself IA
tally uninteresting; to do so, would be
ruinous TO my chances for a place In
Mrs. Lougheeds 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.
"One doesn't like TO think that our
femininity is of so superficial quality
that it can be rubbed off merely by &C
quaintance with the world. Surely
those who lose it 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 GOODNESS beginning to dawn
on Mrs Lougheeds expressive coun-
| tenance, so | began again, lowering my
voice to more confidential key.
Il have sometimes wondered what
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 bestow her gifts upon a woman
as upon a man. If there were no
home ties to settle the question in
such a case there would still be the
injurious effect of the example upon
other women, wouldn't there? Rosa
Bonheur, for instance, and Florence
Nightingale. and-and Nine. Curie.'
OF course, | knew this was all
wrong. too, but | saw with relief that
Mrs. Lougheed only looked a little
vague.
oh. | suppose there are excep-
TONS she said obviously. When
thing is suitable it is different There
are the refined arts-music and litera-
ture-that women can pursue if they
have leisure
But even them" | exclaimed with
secret joy. How often even in
these arts must we deplore the loss
of that delicacy which is woman's
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 wagner 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 it, 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 it is such mistake from
| an economic standpoint for women to
| compete with men as wage-earners. 1t
| is only taking the bread out of the
mouths of other women and little
| children"
| But | suppose those who don't see
| it as We do, dear Mrs. Lougheed."
| said, with a delicious little emphasis
I on the we and especially those who
fail to look at it in a large, impersonal
way, might say that the first duty OF
! these women was TO fill their own
Il mouths. Many of them may not only
II 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
e women going out" continued Mrs
Lougheed who liked TO feel the whole
a weight of the argument under hel
II feet
It Yes, if only it would be equally dis
"A tributed'' | said IF we could only
o persuade the men who earn to share
d with those who don't, how it would
# simplify things; and if only we coulc
,e persuade the manufacturers not to EN-
ploy women at all. They are really
., to blame. you know, too. and they keel
II advertising for more all the time
10 Don't you think we could get the Ma
y, tional council to take it up"
" Mrs. Lougheed began fastening VI
10 her furs. | rose with her. still pre-
in serving my deferential attitude.
e. THE home is womans natural anC
lie divinely-appointed sphere. she said
a conclusively, and with shade of in
d. jury in her tone. which | thought un
w justifiable, considering that We wer,
M on the same side of the argument
s. There are women who work just be
ut cause they like to and want to. The,
ne don't know how unattractive the,
e. make themselves or they would not d.
or it. Men do not like the kind of won
w en- who ignore the home
lg They may not have been SO happ
ny in it as you and |. and so We can wei
n afford to spare a little pity for them.
N. | said again, in my winningest way.
st "Ah. yes, poor things!" replied Mrs
et Lougheed, giving me the parting hanc
CT washed the palms after she ha
Oh gone. and reflected. l felt in very goo
ie' spirits. OF course, knew it was rea
" Mr.. Lougheed l had been arguin
IN with. and felt avenged for more tina
en- one bad quarter of an hour he ha
RS given me, when he had called for. an
ne | had unwittingly responded with. m
Vn utmost vacuity of mind. l used t
wonder why | was so preternaturall
RS. idealess with him. but l saw now tina