The Natchitoches enterprise. (Natchitoches, La.) 1888-1965, 1917-01-18


who was born and reared in Nat
chitoches, the distinguished eldest
son of his worthy parents, MIR.
and Mrs. j. II. Stephens will BE-
in reading the follow
ing eloquent address he made be
fore tho S. +. w. c., when it met
at Hammond, in which he paid a
beautiful and just tribute to
women and advocated higher edu-
cation.
'Man yearrs for the coming Of the
millenial day when his better self shall.
prevail, when mutual love shall be en-
throned and when women stall come
into her own, " said DR. h. /, Stephens
Of the Southwestern Louisiana institute
in addressing the federated club women
on "What is Education Doing tor
Women"
The trouble is that mans own educa-
ton is deficient. If he himself were
wiser and more informed, he would
cease to place stumbling blocks IN the
path of the progress of his weaker
brethren or sisters. 1t is the same mar
row point of view of ignorance, and the
prejudice born of ignorance, that re-
strained US so long from opening the
door of free public school to all thepeo-
ple-of rich and poor alike. 1t is the
same that barred women so long from
our colleges and universities. But man
is growing wiser. He is beginning to
see the light. He has already gone far
in the direction of giving women educa-
ton, and in twelve out Of forty-eight
states of our Union (one-fourth) she
already has the ballot-though not yet
in our state. perhaps mot yet, but
soon.'
We are like the old negro in the story,
who was telling his employer of his dom
este lnfelicities: "Ias, sub, dat oman
gonto sholy drive me crazy. She all
time develin me for money. Is Joe,
gimme a quartuh, Joe, gimme 70
otis, Joe, gimme dollah. "Weil,
Joe what does she do with all that
money!" Il don know, sub, what all
she do's wild i'll amt nevah give 'er
none yeti! We don't know what our
women would do with the ballot, be-
cause we have never given it to her
yet, but | firmly believe that we are
now indebted to American woman
mood. to the Girl Of the Golden West
for the greatest political blessing OF
our history, for the triumphant re-elec-
ton of our great Democratic school
master president, Woodrow Wilson.
In college debate on the subject.
"Resolved, that woman's sphere Is
ministering to mans needs" the af-
frmative won handily with these de-
ciSive and unanswerable arguments:
First, that her creation was Mistake
and an afterthought, because, accord
ing to the first chapter Of Genesis and
thirty-frst verse, "God completed his
work in six days AMI pronounced it good
which Vas after he mad made Adam
aud before he had made Eve!
Second. Tat she was made for mans
special bcnsnt-to be his helpmeet.
The animals were caused to pass before
Adam, not primarily to be named, but
so he could select a heIpmate. But
Adam was hard to please, so Eve was
created.
Third, she is strictly subordinate to
man, because the first chapter and verse
of First Corinthians says: The head
of the man is Christ and the head of
the woman is the man.: and the second
chapter and twelfth verse of First Tim
othy says: Suffer not women to
teach nor to usurp authority over the
man." And in the fourth book OF Par
adise Lost, Milton describing Adam ana
Eve says:
"For contemplation he and valor
formed,
For softness she and sweet attractive
grace;
He for God only, she for God in him.
His fair large front and eye sublime
declared
Absolute rule; and Hyacinthin locks
Round from his parted forelock man
ly hung
Clustering, but not beneath his Shout
ders broad.
She, as a veil down to the slender
waist,
Her unadorned golden tresses wore
Disheveled, but in wanton ringlets
AS the vine curls her tendrils, which
imp lied
Subsection.
Fourth, the commandments were only
for men, as may be seen by Internal
evidence. Thou shalt not bear false
Witness" for example, and Thou shalt
not covet thy neighbor' wife. F" Women
were not allowed to testify in Hebrew
courts, and no woman ever covets her
Wife-indeed quite the con-
trary.
Fifth, she is commanded to patient
subsection in the second chapter and
fourth verse of First Timothy, where
he says "Let woman learn in all SUBJ
lection" and by St Paul, who says
IF woman would have knowledge
let her ask her husband"
And sixthly, that she is not promised
everlasting life, and that God said: 81
am the God of Abraham, Isaac and
Jacob"-but nowhere claims or admits
being the God of Rebecca, Sarah and
Rachel
While we smile over the satire and
enjoy the broad and humorous exagger-
alton of the ridiculous arguments, it
cannot but give US pause when we re-
alize upon reflection that, after all, they
;airly well set forth the tragic truth Of !
,ur age-long treatment of woman. She
las, in fact, been treated through all |
he centuries as a subordinate being,
,reated for mans comfort and enjoy !
nent. Her education, in any high or |
adequate manner or measure, was
scarcely thought of until time within
he memory Of men still living.
was much surprised quite recently
o learn of dear old Robinson Crusoe's
most remarkable and praiseworth con-
ribution to the subject of the educa-
ion of women. 1t is my impression
hat few people know-even among
hose whose business it is to know some
hing of the history of education what
remarkable and important contribu-
ion this old friend of our youth made
o the early agitation Of education of
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