The weekly true Democrat. (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1905-1912, 1909-04-23

Miss Jefferson Bell, Of Tallahassee:
The beginning Of the twentieth cen
fury was heralded by many prophecy
ing problems that termed THE New
Woman" II was 20 though the whole
world had suddenly awakened and found
5 new species Of woman; she was grave
" dissected and discussed and all man
Ber Of brilliant things were expected OF
Der.
II was not, however. with the begin
ning Of the century that woman began
20 make her influence felt IN the world.
There's always q woman IN IT, Is
truism as old az the Eden Tree.
We speak OF the new woman and Of
WOman's widened sphere as though they
were new things, but ever since that
little transaction In apples 10 the Garden
81 Eden IN the beginning Of things, NO
man has shared mans activity and re-
spOnsibility in the affairs Of the world
Ages and ages ago women sat in high
places and held the reins OF ROvernment
down the ages their fame shine IN.
dimmed, the Queen OF Sheba, in her
barbaHe spleDdor; Cleopatra, In her
magnificent beauty and royal disregard
Of conventiOhalit holding In her thrall
two Of the W,1rld's masters: Elizabeth
ef England, whose master mind and
breadth Of tho ight made her reign one
81 splendid attainment; Victoria, OF our
eWn age, renowned among the rulers.of
Britain.
There Il no walk Of life that woman
has not invaded and left her impress
epon. Even on bloody battlefields the
AnaSOns have given evidence OF wo-
mans pFOWeBs In the arts Of war 90
veil as In the arts OF peace
In no age 80 In the present has wo.
man, as 4 class, 70 deliberately turned
Der back upon the old inoOringa and set
9ail 20 CALAMITY upon the worlds tur-
bulant sea.
Glancing backward over the worlds
History, the fact that Womcn's names
stand out In isolated instances 10 mark
thelr achleyments gives evidence Of
WnUlan's failure 10 accomplish lasting
results 0utal6O Of the beaten paths OF
home and motherhood. Women In the
egainsss world and In public life, 90 fer,
ea8 failed 20 make good We have beer
mughk 10 believe that home was the
proper plaee for woman; that 10 wed
and reag = family was the purpose for
which W0maa was created. SO deeply
Wns this Idea Impressed upon the femI-
Elne mind fDOm birth 20 WOmanhoOd,
that Ell other ambitions were Folegated
- realms Of the forbidden and traps
Befo Get %, ensnaFs unWary man into
nletgHno8E Te remain unmarried was
- become 3 reprOaeh, and an unmar- |
lIe8 Womaa's apingteFhood was referred !
% undoB ODen breath. That any WO-
n4n should have GhOssn 20 remain sin. |
sic was IN idea inaESdalously seoRed 81
d old and young.
There 10 today not q sew species Of
woman, but q new breed Of old maids
~WomeH who have considered and who
have chosen between carving theiF own
Heyg through The world and ontruatina
sheir lives and futures. 20, anothaTG
keeping.
The emancipation OF womantpom this
belief has marked the beginning OF q
rev era Tor woman. The single atGts
y 10 longer terror, rather II Ia alluF-
- q woman. Emaneipated from do
noela cares and responsibilities that
1neEAtion after generation have dc.
ltroYed her uaofuln0as for all other
york u the world, and emAnelpated
rom the thrall OF narrow conventional
lllos, bravely assuming an equal share
y name work and looking Tor mans
'oc0laponae, the woman OF today 10
blasting out q way for the woman OF the
.alnro that should lead 10 greater
hinge.
whether she will take advantage Of
opportunities or not Ia an unsolved
9lDhlem Woman has always been q
'pondthrlft Of opportunity.
hhlWasteful WOmanl She who may
"a her own sweet self set her own price,
.eoWmE Ne cannot choose but pay.
low abe has shsApened Paradlsei
How given for nOught her priceless
gift
Vow spoiled the bread and spilled the
Vhlsh spent with due respective thrift,
lnd made bFuteH men-and men d.
vine"
IN the realm Of lIterature, science and
agt, and In the business life Of the
qgld, woman Is taking her place and ls
SLING Il with credit. Another genera
1on, IN altered environment and un-
lampered BY the trammeling traditions
II her ancestors, should accomplish
much; but whether her achievements
viii Be q recompenae for the tendeFer.
more sacred ties, whether the rewards
Ne gathers from the world will satisfy
~ nature as does the prattle OF chill
Fpn and the love Of husband 10 a ques.
'oa each WOman's heart must answer
----.----=
The Peer MIlkman Again.