The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1916-05-18
"THE IDEAL WOMAN"
A Paper by Mrs. Emma Jennings Nc.
Ginnis, Read Before Chapter W.,
Il. Il. o. Society, Leon, Iowa.

Ideal, means an imaginary mode
or standard of perfection, therefore
the Ideal Woman" l shall portray
to your mind in this article is one tc
whose standard of excellence none OF
us may ever hope to reach, but the
study OF her may show us our defici.
'encies and inspire us to a higher and
better womanhood. Every woman
has, at times in her mind, the idea OF
what she should be but is not. In all
women who seek to improve it is bet
ter than the actual character, for nc
one is so satisfied with herself that
she never wishes to be wiser, better
and more holy.
First of all, the ideal woman
should be christian. The christian
spirit, like a perfume, will unbidden,
relations of life, sweetening and puri-
flying all her influences, even in the
commonest things of life. She is kind,
gentle, gracious and sweet. A pref
ty woman without religion is likened
to rose without perfume.
She is an educated woman, which
gives her respect for all the high
er things Of life. Discrimination in
real values; contempt for the petit
ness that takes up so much valuable
time; a tendency to gossip rather
than scandal; desire to help the
world, and to make her own house
hold the best possible under existing
circumstances.
She is cultured and courteous.
Small kindnesses, small courteses,
small considerations habitually prac-
ticed in social intercourse gives a
greater charm to character than the
display of great talents and accom-
plshments. She uses no slang, is
never rude or bold, yet always full
Of fun and frolic.
She is educated for some special
vocation in life by means of which
she can efficiently gain livelihood
if necessary, or if she chooses to 40
so, which insures ner independence,
and promotes her own interests. she
will not assume mans natural
place, or humiliate him, for there are
plenty of places for her in the world
without it, Her natural domain by
nature is the keeper OF the home, the
guardian of our race.
She may be married or single, but
having the same personality and in
stincts; love for all that is good IN
books, music, and art, and for nome
and children. Some people think 1t
is on account Of the lack OF mater
nal instinct that some women 40 not
marry, when in fact, 1T is sometimes
this very instinct that is the great
driving force that makes her work
or career in some other vocation a
success One has but to visit the
kindergartens, schools and hospitals,
etc., to realize this fact. 1t is
matter of whether a good enough
opportunity is offered for marriage,
for womans lot in life is made, to
a great extent for her, by the love
she accepts.
The single woman's part in life
may be a noble one; she may elevate
and help others, but other things
equal, hers must always be second
place. She is never fulfilling the
part nature intended her to fill. The
wife and mother is the crowned
queen" If married, the ideal woman
fulfills the description OF the vlrtu-
GUS woman given in Proverbs 3l-lO-
81, which says, cher price is far
above rubies."
She does not occupy her time in
the same way weaving and making
all the clothing for her family, or DO
ing all the work, but she is respon-
sible for it, and the same purpose
and end will be accomplished for her
home according to the needs and OPP
portunities of the century in which
she lives. 1.-The heart Of her husband
doth safely trust her and she will 40
him good, not evil, all the days of her
life."
She is Industrious. Charles King
ley says, THANK God every morning
you get up that you have something
to do that day that must be done
whether you like it or not. Being
forced to work and forced to do your
best, will breed in you temperance
and self-control diligence and
strength of will, cheerfulness and
content, and hundred virtues the
idle will never know. No matter
what other interests she may have,
she will still look we'll to her own
household making her home the san
est and best, the dearest, gladdest
spot on earth, a center of love, social
life, wholesome hospitality, haven
of refuge and protection from the
scars of the outside world for the
dears ones in it, and the love,
strength, and power to hold them to
all that is good and pure.
She realizes the great possibility
of the home and will develop all her
resources for it, realizing none OF the
accomplishments of life are too good
for it. She will have the best she
can in the physical world, the best
she can use in the mental, and the
best in the spiritual world, and a
perfect balance in all things.
She is beautiful both mentally and
physically 1t is natural for the hu-
man heart to yearn for and enjoy
beauty wherever found, and, there is
no place where we have greater
right to love and admire it than in
the human face and figure, but it is
the beauty which is the outward re-
Election of the inner life, rather than
mere physical beauty, that appeals to
us most The most beautiful wom-
an is the one whose sweet grace
shows forth in her deeds as it does
in her face, the outward expression
of the inner life which is the sweet
>os+ copoct ond host the hearty and