Norwich bulletin., 1915-11-13
THE GOVERNOR AND THE LADY

written Specially for The Balletin.)
About the last place in the world
in which one would look for hunor is
in The HISTORY of New England from
1880 to 1919, by that staid and serious
dignitary, John Winthrop, governor of
Massachusetts,, whose son, another
John, was of Importance to people
hereabouts as the founder Of New
London.
But hunor there is certainly in that
weigtty tome, as discovered by a man
who has conferred honor on Norwich,
to wit, the late Edmund Clarence
Stedman. The story of Stedman.s
residence in this town during his early
years is known to every citizen, who
is proud of the fact.
In his wonderfully able work. The
Library Of American Literature, conn
piled in conjunction with Ellen M.
Hutchinson, Mr.. Stedman devotes con-
siderable space to excerpts from Win
throp's books and to his letters.
The serious looking governor, whose
portrait adorns the senate chamber
of Massachusetts, we can well believe
had no intention of being the least bit
funny when he told in grave sentence
of an episode in colonial life, which.
sad enough in itself, doubtless. at
that time, strikes the modern reader
as unconsciously humorous.
It is Of local interest, tco, since il
pertains to a woman from this state.
1t affords us a good idea, of the opin-
ions of that-times especially of the
Puritan estimate of a woman who
aimed to be literary. Writes the dig
nified and Mortified governor:
MIR. Hopkins, the governor of Hart
ford upon Connecticut. came to Bos-
ton and brought his wife with him
Ca godiy young woman, and OF special
parts), who was fallen into a sad
infirniity, the loss of her understand
ing and reason, which had been grow
of her giving herself wholly to read
ing and writing, and had written many
books.
Her husband, being very loving
and tender of her, was loath to grieve
her; but he saw his error. when it was
too late.
For If she had attended her house
hold affairs, and such things as be-
long to women, and not gone out of
her way and calling to meddle in such
things as are proper for men, whose
minds are stronger, ETC.. she had kept
her wits, and might have improved
them usefu1ly and honorabIy in the
place God had set her.
He brought her to Boston and left
her with her brother. one Mr.. Yale
be had here for her. But no help
could be had
Of course the story of poor Mrs
Hopkins is said enough; but what a
light Governor Winthrop's paragraphs
throw upon the opinion of scribbline
and thinking women in those days!
And how dPeH the picture drawn. OF
the pathetic case of the unfortunate
lady, who lost her wits forsooth, be-
cause she had gone out of her way
and calling to NEEDLE in such things
as are proper for men. whose mind.
are stronger" etc.
Deary mel Were Governor Win
throp to revisit the site of his som,
city these days, and to see a hundred
or more young women actually study.
ing how to write and read big books
| litable (sic) only for stronger mind
ed men, wouldn't his amazed eye:
stick out? What would be the effec
on him of a college for women only
and of women giving themselve'
wholly to, reading and writing, ant
| had written many books %
This is not an argument for suffrage
| far from it! But it is amusing AM
Instructive, certainly. as to the c.<nge
time hath wrought, to gaze from goo
Governor Winthrop's point of view t
present day conditions!
Women actually crowding men out o
| the professions; writing just as abb
| books, painting just as artistic pictures
making just as eloquent pleas, design
| ing just as practical houses and othe
buildings, and in scores of other way
| proving that they are 'meddling" i
affairs proper only for men, becaus
| they can do so as well or perhaps bet
| ter than men CAM
| The ancient governor was SCUM
ehoaqh at the basis of his argument
| nobody is disputing that. Attendin
''to household affairs, and such thing
as belong to women" are still the pri
4 mary interests of a womans' existence
| But, nevertheless. it is in the contFas
between his viesw mad latter-day prac
| tice that humor lies.
/ Women in three or four states goin
| to the polls to tell strong minded
| ren how to vote; a woman for the frs
4 time a judge at the big horse show
| some women coming from wester
/ states to represent thousands of con
| stisuents in congress. why, from Gov
e-nor Winthropls standpoint the Who'll
world is out Of joint! Yet, somehow
the old ball still spins on.
| A Norwich woman who has just re
turned from a trip to the Pacific. slop
has much to tell of the activity of tn
weaker sex in California life.
Far from finding them the amazon
Ian creatures she had half unconscious
iy expected, she discovered that the
were equally interested with the
eastern sisters in those things ''as be
long to women as the old governc
puts it: were posted on style change
up to date in the acquisition OF prett
frocks and smart millinery. goo
housekeepers taking pride in the com
i fcrt and charm of their homes. A
hgment of the imagination until W
concrete it.
Beware Of the person who select