The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-10-02
Social Reforms Matters
Of Gradual Growth

n has been frequently said IN
half iocular, half-contcmptuous way ol
refornis ADVOCATED by women, that they
were meaningless and not worthy oh
being taken seriously into account.
because women were not ~ eaFttss
and did not even realize What WY
were attempting to 40. ..h
This assertion has had enough trutA
In Il to arrest attention, because the
obstructors counting for most IN wo-
mems reform movements have not been
tho ,open oppositionists In the ranks
OF masculinity but the secret reeat-
citrants among their own sex, the
women who are devoted to the easetuA
and material side of existence Re /.
form means to them the uprooting OF
tho established order Of affairs ana
their having to recognize and deal
openly with evils that they nave
ignored, because 1t was easier ZOE
them to float with rather than against,
the current of popular opinion.
Womnn's Method OF Opposition.
IN all Important questions dealing
with social and economic questions,
men take opposite sides. But they do
1t frankly and with an axowed pur-
pose Women work by undermining
| and destroying confidence. For those
of their number inspired with q serious
hope and purpose in an enterprise
Il
they profess a great pity, such as one
might feel for misguided child OF
| wilful and mistaken inclinations
| type scarcely to he Considered weight
| lily, except in>the light of restraint
| from intended mischief Such an at
! titude as this Is calculated to moro
| effectively destroy the force Of any
| projected reform than outspoken argu-
| ment against 1t could possibly do. For
| 1t brings ridicule on the movement.
| onlookers who haye borne no part In
| 1t come to believe that 1t is led only
by impractical enthusiasts. who have
lost sight of realities in dreaming
dreams and beholding visions that can
never come to pass.
i OutErOwth OF Thought and Effort.
The history Of the worlds civiltza-
! ton includes within It the history of
reforms. each one OF which has been
the outgrowth OF yeara Of thought
and effort, Many Of the movements
preceding reform have been marked
with bloodshed and stained with
cruelty. Eternal vigilance, patience
and unending firmness OF purpose
have gone into tle making of statutes
that stand for freedom and progress.
To all else that they have learned
women must add the virtue OF know
nut the harvest is long in coming.
Discouragements. like tares, grow
apace. Before the fruition OF hone
there are the work, hard and unre-
hitting. the secret antagonism al
ways 20 be reckoned with, the ortiz
cism 20 be answered. the misrepre-
sentatton to be disnroyed. Comnara.
lively unframed to independence ana
resourcefu1ness, women often And
themselves uncertain and Confused
ana lose opportunities through lack
u poIdness In not knowing how an6
When to grasp them
itecompense Comes Mt Last,
gu. however long and weary tn,
Waitlng. steady and persistent an,
united effort will be met with recn,,,
pense. II only the effort continues Ion,
enough. Work of this kind is honn,
~ command respect on account Of In
purpose behind 1t and the faith whic,
Holus the purpose true.
OF s eioa "a are Z. bound to be matter
~ STOW growth, because even wiz
thsir necessity has been demonstrata,
the natural dislike to chanra on t -,
h ipnor, OF the narrow minded and til Il,
Resl,,ts mas mas to be met and overborn,
q claims presented and in the mati,
quire time. issu1ts IS
Women Must Not Turn Back.
The education and trninina =, ~,
men as distinctive entities ana foro !
M influences on the world aro,.n
them mas when comparison OF linz,
reckoned. but recently been rue n
woman having put her hand to II
plow need think of turning back he
cause the answer to her prayer Ia
nps yet 1. come q To the watcher OF til
put the sun will Gid the hilltopss 'a whe
Only women must be steadfast an
an al, They must be faithful
each other and the end they have
view II they are. they viii have al
ready taken a long step forward
the reform march that will eventual
make OF women an Irresistible an
THE PAssER-BY.
TO THE GIRL WHO
leE IS REALLY tIIP.Tn.n ma N