Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-05-13
By PAoLA LoMBRoso.

TO the superficial observer the impress
ion of the majority OF every day women
hat SURROUND hint fs apt 70 mako hin
onoeive rathef pessinistic of weman In
teneral.
What does he see? Young, pretty,
oquettish girls; wise in the matter Of
ress, hungry for admiration shy and
nperficial. always en- the outlook for a
husband.
He sees young women WHO are tyran-
ical and distrusrful If they arc edored.
nnatural and pretentious II they believe
hey are gifted, taken up with petty
eandals and gossips. interested mostly in
hopping, calling. 5 o'clock teas and au-
horities on the rules Of etiquette He
lso sees good housewives, mothers.
lives, good-hearted, but narrow minded
hxious for their husbands to be decor
ted. infatuated with their children and
elieving it not to be a crime to humor
lem in their smallest whims. Slaves to
leir embroideries and knitting, upset and
despair II the cook happens to waste a
tile butter.
Such Is the average woman-an elegant,
raceful. conventional doll on every point.
lstifying the expression "the weaker
ex." But this is only apparent. for it is
asst In this kind of woman that ! have
Dund the purest, greatest strongest and
lost indomitable force; it is this kind of
oman that can show firmness and
ourage. dignity and sense of justice. self
enial, feeling of duty. and who in an
mergency can fight to the bitter end.
The contrast between the commonplace
( woman's everyday life. and her ca
acity for more strength in a decisive
ioment is indeed wonderful and striking.
Here is an essential point where the
loral strength OF woman differs from
Ten. A morally strong man is strong as
result of instinct or education. and he
smains so whether his life is happy OF
oil OF suffering, but the men who are
trong not only physically, but morally
re more rare than one should think.
Woman. on the other hand, allows her
loral strength 20 remain dormant. while
err life is placid, happy and normal. But
then the necessity arises-when poverty
alamities or sickness overtake her
amily--it acts upon her like magic. II
not only one woman. Il is all. the most
commonplace. the gentlest. the sweetest
rho, suddenly without any warning. with
ut preparation, unhesitatingly are ready
devote themselves. sacrifice themselves
lreless, fearless, humble and ardent
ustained by an interior fire, which is
uddsnly ignited and does not go out
The most simple, most frivolous woman
ides at the bottom OF her soul a spark OF
eroism which neither she herself MOI
nybody else suspects, which she never
hoWs II her life runs its normal course
ut which springs into evidence and man
tests itself BY actions Of devotion anC
eIf-sacrifice, II fate strikes. a cruel blow
gainst her. or those whom she loves
hen she does not vince. she does moi
omplain. nor give way to useless despair
ut rushes into the breach. The woman
tho hesitates TO put her feet into cold
laeid water throws herself into the
erlls OF the roaring. surging maelstrom.
i can give you one striking instance
lady whom l knew personally had
cen married eighteen years TO very
Ich. cynical depraved banker who neg.
acted her and abused her so cruelty that
everal time she was on the point Of
skiing for a divorce. Then came H.
aneial scandal; the banker was ruined
rrested, found guilty OF a fraud, and
entenced to several years imprisonment
When this abused wife saw her husband
rushed and condemned 10 prison, sh'
Srgot the reasons she had 70 hate him
hd, although she could not love him
ie was the only one who remained faith
n TO him. For two years she regularly
ought him a basket Of luncheon sh'