The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1912-05-20
.IF YOU WILL KEEP
At A STANDSTILL
Don't Retard the Splendid Progress
of Others.
BY FRANCES sH.AFFER.

What sorry old wrfid this would be
II there never had been men and women
distinctly ahead OF their times, ready to
take their courage In their hands and go
on, needless Of the rebuking cries that
would call them back.
AS one turns the pages Of history and
reads what others have done in the name
OF human progress. there is intense ad-
miration for the souls that endured. and
just as deep pity and shame for the
many who deliberately. protestingly
stood in the way.
Most, Of US lack the spirit OF martyrdom.
just as we lack the spirit Of genuine in
dependence. But II Is something to rec
ognize a superior spirit when one sees It.
somehow 10 know finer clay when It is IN
evidence.
For It has been the history Of the world
that just as Il was the few who were
brave enough to stand up against opposi-
ton, so It was only another handful who
were discerning enough 10 recognize them
as anything but common disturbers, will
ing to admire, II not to follow.
Died for Their Rights.
There was the history of the struggle
for freedom OF religious Worship. Men
and women 6ied for the right to live
their faith, even to believe as their con-
sciences prompted. And while they were
pleading that II was only a human, God
given right, there were the arrant pro-
testers. denouncing. reyilIng. and perse-
cutting.
Personally. the martyr spirit is not
dominant; il means too much of sacri-
fee, too much of determined courage, too
much Of selfishness. But had l lived in
the days when It cost dearly to think as
one would, to pray and TO worship as
one would. / hope / would have recogS
nized the exceeding fineness OF spirit, the
answering courage and devotion that go
hand in hand with martyrdom-
Because II is SO very comfortable, such
an inherent right as we conceive IL in
this great, beautiful, free country Of
ours, to think and to worship as We like,
and the price was pretty high.
Beautiful Theory.
''Al is right with the worId"-that is
a beautiful theory. but one does not like
to think what would have happened
years ago II there had not been ad-
vanced thinkers and advanced humani-
tarians TO proclaim that not all was
right until the Stars and Stripes could
float over a country which was in truth
the land OF the free"
Yet there was the usual array of pro-
testers, noisily proclaiming that Il was
not right to interfere.
When Elizabeth Blackwell first took
up the study of medicine in 1877 all sorts
of obstacles were thrown in her way
not the least the attitude OF women
themselves, for when they met her on
the streets of her English home, they
drew their skirts aside. fearful lest they
might somehow be infected with her I'M
holy aspirations, never once recognizing
al. Z. Al.
endure abuse and taunts for the sake Of
the open door.
Yet. thanks to the fact that that pio-
neer woman physician was not held back
by ridicule or abuse and that she was
sufficiently progressive and courageous
10 go on alone. there is in New York |
to-day a hospital for women and chill |
dren. which she established simply be /
cause every other hospital in the big |
city barred its doors against her.
/ would not like to have been one of
the obstructionists. would you? Be-
cause that inflrmary. established in the |
face Of antagonism and unyielding preJd- |
dice, remains one Of two hospitals in |
that city where poor women and chill
dren can receive treatment at the hands
Of members of their own sex.
offered Higher Education.
And do you know that when vassar
College started its work there were
many. many who said that no refined,
Christian mother ever would permit her
daughter to enter that institution and
that the mere fact that It was a college
Tor women was sufficient to condemn Il?
Every fiber Of those slow-going, unpro-
yressive obstructionists was arrayed
against higher education for women, but
N the light of modern times theirs was
/ very narrow, useless part in Hfe-Just
10 hold others back.
And that is the point Of It all Since
most of US are unwilling to do the IN
popular thing, because of the great or
he little martyr element involved. the
east we can do is to refrain from block
ng the way of others. Because all along
he backward way of history the OBJ
made progress very difficult
'or any but the supremacy courageous
Yet, as we throw the new light upon
hem, with our advantage Of perfected
rision, they look very unsightly and
Useless. II
And so IT will go, l suppose. to the end
If time, some beautifully leading the
way, others not only standing still, but
attempting to retard the progress Of all