300
THE CONGRESS OF WOMEN
Carrying with her the safeguard of knowledge, she avoids failure and is qualified to |
fight the battle of life and win the victory. Wisdom is the crown of glory and scepter j
of power for woman. I
Most of the misery and wretchedness of humanity are the bitter fruits of ignorance 1
and stupidity. It is impossible for any woman to fill her place as a mother, wife and mistress of home, unless she is possessed of sense and wisdom to meet the vicissitudes of life. To improve the race, we want healthy, cultivated women. Really, it does seem strange that an impression should have taken hold of the world, especially in the East, that woman’s duties in life should require less education and preparation than man’s. i
Yet it is so. I used frequently to hear our people say, “ Oh it does not matter about i
the girl, but I am anxious about the boy. ” Man’s duties in this world may be noble 1
enough; I would be the last to ignore their grandeur. But woman’s office is a very sacred one; for the world is what woman makes it. As the mother of men,she stamps indelibly upon them her own weakness or talent, health or disease. Hence, I believe that woman should have a liberal education to fit her for the responsibilities of wife, mother and general educator. Woman should be thankful and happy in her place in creation. It is noble and glorious. She is the ruling queen and may be the leader in progress.
It is her own fault if she does not labor to be dressed with purity, crowned with wisdom, and adorned with the jewels of patience and peseverance. I cannot understand why women should not be satisfied, why she seeks to push man to do his work. ‘j
It w’ould never do to have them labor in the same field of action. This is against the law of nature which provides a sphere for everything. Equality between the sexes is ,
not in the equal portion of the same work, but the equality of their whole contribution to the welfare of the race. Woman should glory in womanhood, in being the mother of men, the doctor of moral and mental diseases, in offering to mankind the fruit of her labors and experience, so they might grow together strong in understanding, rounded in intellect, prepared for pure and glorious lives. !
g
I