The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-02-16
Voice Of the People

The Right or Intelligence In Women.
To the Editor of The Times Dispatch:
Sir,-Not mans rients. not woman's
Ia express itself through men and
women OF ability; this Is the great
and burning question to-day. and 1t
has been the question since the day
when God first lit the candle of man
kinds higher. Intelligent spirit and
babe II shine for all time and eternity,
and Let it shine is the divine au-
thority for allowing every individual
man ana woman to think and live his
ton.
The rights OF intelligence are the
secret and life OF all true progress:
and intelligence is not matter of
seX-it is neither masculine nor fem
mime. Intelligence comes from God.
the giver OF every good and perfect
OF every man and woman with high
cr, truer. nobler conception OF what is
real progress in life. Woman, then.
must share in common with her broth
er man the responsibility of express
ing this intelligence in her life's work
This brings us to consideration OF
her share OF this Intelligence
Ierhaps the most usual answer to
ment that woman's sphere is in the
home, where God intended her to rem
der that loving service that has made
home with mother a symbol OF
heaven on earth. But there are sew
erll difficulties that Immediately brano
ms ms a answer erroneous To suppose
acter should marry or that God IN
tended all such to marry is simply un-
reasonable ea II has been n great blum
uer 10 teach that marriage is the chief
shu or every womans life or that IL
Is absolutely essential to her happi-
ness, ihere are many women, there
are many men, totaify unfit to marry
because they have not that inclination,
uiissposttion or affection that will sac
llhce lor the sake OF a happy home.
Again, If marriage is the Supremacy
happy state. why is il that in heaven,
the highest conception or happiness
there IS neither marrying nor giving
woman desired to marry. she could not
Tor there are more women than men,
ana al q Christian civilization very right
~ refuses to allow polygamy: nor
could the average man take care OF
more man one wife these days. So
many women, must remain single, and
large per cent OF these are intelli-
gent women of spirit. and they are un-
ana friends; but they arc willing to
work; and they do work. often earning
proaa. clothing. and even education
FOR those that are near and dear TO
them.
If conditions or a reasonable choice
have forced them into the world as
wise To prepare themselves for those
positions that suit their taste ana in
it ea1gs this preparation. of course.
SNIP ana office into the professions.
where Intelligence rightly and persist
entity used must succeed
1t is often said by cmincntlv sue
cessful business men that their wives
advice saved and made them money
time ana again. Now, suppose this
almost unused or unerafncd ability of
woman had been working in the bust
ness world as long as mans has been.
certainly business conditions would
c RI m a 40
chat business is business" kind OF in
teliigence) is concerned. she has been
man in great financial schemes and
come out far ahead of him. Then. IL
she must work for a living, and can
enter the lucrative professions, she is
in q position to make money, save II
and invest ii. thus becoming IL prop
crty- holder. and as intelligent prop
| that she should have Il voice in that
government which she, as a taxpayer.
helps 10 support. TO deny her this JUS
tice would be to encourage the taxa
ton without representation" principle.
which we, as Il nation. most emphati-
| unjust and therefore wrong. Then wo-
men should be allowed To vote, and, as
a matter of fact. they will have the
privilege SOONER or later for the right
| must prevail.
Now, II few words about woman as
Il voter. There is always kind of
pitiable. fearful scntimentality. or feel
| ing. that is very slowly and with DIFF
rculty overcome by tho progress OF
intelligence. II is that feeling that
binds one to the past MS the only
source OF good ideas and that makes
him ridIcule. scorn, or absolutely re-
| ject without any reason whatever, any
| new ideas that are o.. claim to be bet
ter than, those OF former days. What
n blessed thought that the highest and
best Intelligence steadily, earnestly,
| faithfully and triumphantly moves for
| ward, leaving these poor sclf-made un-
| fortunates to their doom, viz, sadness
and loneliness through lack OF sym
patty with. and hence, n failure to
progress. These. this article Is neither
| intended to antagonizc nor to disturb.
but 1T is intended for those individual
| men and women that take n lively in
tcrcst in every great progressive move
ment
SO far as Intelligence Is concerned.
there are large number of women
| that could end woult, vote as sensibly
as men do; then Is 1t Wise to let these
Intelligent votes go unused? Again, is
II wise to lose the votes of intelligent
women because some women would
vote unwiscly? Surely large number
| OF mon vote most unwisely: fs this any
reason for deprivins all mon of vot-
ing? Again, IL, as some say, women
after all control their husbands votes;