The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-04-03
Ideas and Their Value
in the Worlds Market

The woman who wishes to make
money and make IL rapidly, ought to
keep an idea" shop. She ought TO ac-
cumulate a choice stock OF ideas. war.
ranted brand-new, and keep them for
the accommodation OF large class
OF other women who are always run
ming out OF such goods, and would be
quite willing TO pay literally for what
they want, need and haven't got.
An idea really means new and
original point OF view that frequently
applied to an old and worn-out sub
ject. furnishes 1T up. CLOSES 1T over
and renders it quite original and dis
tinctive. The woman who Is rich In
ideas Is almost as much in requIsition
as she who Is disciple of higher
education or as che who Is college
bred"
But few women are accounted as be-
Ing the originators OF ideas that count.
Probably the reason OF this Is that
women are seldom genuine. They are.
most OF them. enveloped in an atmos-
phere OF artitciaiity from their infan-
Fcy, an atmosphere that represses all
toriginalIiy, that discourases any real
research and study on their own be-
half, that tnclines them to adopt opin.
Hons ready made for them, and renders
them very timid about striking out
on any OF Investigation, or inaugurat-
ing any departure from tho beaten
aine that Is clearly marked out for them
TO follow.
A. woman who has ideas" is there
tfore considered more or less OF an ano-
lmaly. She has to make very good her
Fright and title to her wares and woo
lbe unto her. It she incurs a suspicion
lof having poached upon her neighbors'
rights by exploiting them. For ideas
tare more or less patent rights. and
lagainst any infringement OF these
ttights. the protest Is sure to be both
tlong and loud.
Ideas arc acceptable always: It mat
tders not TO what department OF life
spr activity they relate. whether they
Iare associated with literature. or
tscience. or mechanics. the world has a
fuse for them and can render them at
lpnce available.
A aow of ideas IS partially the result
pt mental training by which woman.
Having gained complete mastery of
matter In hand, and treated 1t exhaus-
lively. strikes out into new lines and
l.idds something by way OF improve
'nent or development 70 what she al
ready knows. Again, woman may
Though she rarely is--bc endowed
with a creative or inventive turn of
mind. This talent may manifest 1T
self in discoveries that are Of more or
less practical. scientific or useful value.
II woman is an educator or writer.
her ideas viii specially rebound to her
credit in the originally of her methods
or her authorship.
Probably better name for the Wo-
man of ideas might be the woman of
genius. For the distinction between
the quickened perception which often
enables her TO see and to know more
than others around her, and THAI
breath of the Divine which Is humanity
named genius, IS small indeed
The woman who is prolific in ideas
Is woman set apart by her gift from
the common lot. The very unusual
ness OF her gilt. II gift her power be.
or her devotion to study, IL her IDEAS
come from her perseverance and con-
tinuity OF application along lines over
which she has gained finished ascen-
dency, render her lot unlike the ordi-
nary lot OF woman.
Perhaps some very unusual love or
humanity enables a woman who is
genius or n devoted student, to bridge
the gulf of difference stretching be-
tween herself and women who could
not enjoy the atmosphere IN which she
daily moves and works She brings
herself down to the level of those who
cannot lift themselves to her. and by
her warm, quick, human sympathy.
and her generous nature, makes them
feel the force and beauty radiatlng
from what she thinks and speaks, and
Lke a leaven. quickening all within
i.each of her touch or her influence.
VIRGINIA MISSIONER.