USA > Illinois > Cook County > Chicago > The Congress of Women : held in the Woman's building, World's Columbian exposition, Chicago, U.S.A., 1893 : with portraits, biographies and addresses > Part 64
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A few days later we left the shores of Africa, and, steaming across the Mediterra-
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ncan to France, I had these Moorish women constantly in mind. They seemed happy and cheerful; I had not seen an unhappy or cross looking woman from Tangiers to Algiers, save those who were actually suffering. All, from the dirty, bathing-sheet draped women of the market place, to their more fortunate and daintier sisters of the palace, seemed blessed with even tempers. They evidently had no idea of the higher education, of the fads, isms and ologies that make part of our lives. Their children, their embroideries, their clothes and jewels, their flowers and trifles seemed to fill their lives full of interest, and I asked myself this question: "Are we women of another race, striving upward and onward feverishly toward a higher goal -. are we any happier, any better women than these simple-minded creatures with no interests out- side of their homes?" I have not yet answered the question to my own satisfaction, and so I leave it to you.
WOMAN AS A FINANCIER.
By MRS. MARY A. LIPSCOMB.
By simple illustration and a few well-established facts I hope to show that woman is not only capable of managing money, but that she is even a safer custodian of funds than man. It is, therefore, an exploded theory that women who have property to manage must, like chil- ren and imbeciles, be provided with guardians. Under- stand me, I do not mean to say that she is a more honest or a wiser financier than man, but simply that she is a more careful one. Woman is not naturally speculative while man is. It is said, and I think the court records and lawyers throughout the country corroborate the statement, that a widow left in charge of her own estate will invariably manage it judiciously and, if she does not augment it to any very great extent, she will live within her income and never allow her property to be squandered. On the contrary, when woman's financial ability is distrusted and a guardian is appointed from the stronger sex, in very many cases he becomes enriched and the widow, sad to relate, finds her earthly possessions "growing small by degrees and beautifully less" each day. It behooves us then, as mothers of the present generation and directors of the education of the young, to see to it that culture in this particular is not neglected. Girls MRS. M. A. LIPSCOMB. should be taught early the care of money. They should be encouraged to open a bank account. They should be taught to draw checks and give receipts, balance books, and all else that is necessary to make them intelli- gent managers of small sums of money. Later on they should know something of the nature of contracts and deeds; of stocks and bonds; of securities and interest; so if they have property of their own to manage there will be no danger of their los- ing it by mismanagement or ignorance. Walter Besant thinks it a very dangerous experiment for woman to assume any part of man's work and gives this friendly advice to them: "Take care, ladies, man is a useful creature when wisely trained, but there is no work so difficult or so dirty that the average erring man will not leave to his wife to do if she shows the ability to do it and the conviction that it is her duty." Our author is right so far as certain branches of man's work is concerned, but I hold that in matters of finance and domestic economy woman is man's safest and truest guide.
Someone has pertinently remarked that, " Washington might as well have decreed by legislation how high a brown thrasher should fly, or how deep a trout should plunge, as to try to seek out the height or depth of woman's duty. The capacity will finally settle the whole question." As to her capacity to manage finances, she has
Mrs. M. A. Lipscomb was born in Athens, Ga. Her parents were Laura Cobb Rutherford and Williams Rutherford. She was educated at the Lucy Cobb Institute, Athens, Ga., and has traveled throughout the United States and Europe. She married Francis Adgate Lipscomb, Professor of Belles-lettres at the University of Georgia. Her special work has been in the interest of elocution, science and general education. Her principal literary works are essays, plays, poems, newspaper articles, etc. Her profession is that of a teacher. She sums up her life as follows : "Half my years are spent and I am but on the threshold of knowledge. 'This only I know that I know nothing.'" In religious faith she is a Baptist. Her post- office address is Athens, Ga.
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settled that question for herself so far as she has been tested. In the state of Georgia, where I live, there are several banks with women presidents and directors, and in these perilous times of embarrassment and failure not one of these banks has been seriously threatened. Out West there are women cashiers and, so far as my knowledge goes, not one has ever become a defaulter, nor lias by unwise management involved thic stockholders. In Georgia, too, not far from my native town, is a little village of sev- eral hundred inhabitants under the government of a woman mayor. It is a new place, but there is an air of prosperity and thrift about it that is very remarkable. Even the stronger sex stop to admire and commend the hand that holds and guides the reins of government. It is said that this little town of Demorest is the best conditioned town in our state. Out in Kansas there is still another town that, I am told, is entirely officered by women, and it is affirmed that the finances of that place are more prosper- ous than those of any other place in the Union. Said Frank Leslie to his wife when he was dying: "Go to my office, sit in my place, and do my work until my debts arc paid." He recognized in her the ability to do this work, and the result proves that his judgment was not mistaken. At the time his business was hopelessly insolvent, his debts being estimated at three hundred thousand dollars. With a brave heart she begged time of her creditors to rescue her husband's name from the shame of bank- ruptcy. It was with distrust that they granted her request, but in an incredibly short time every debt was paid and the entire business placed on a firm basis. Today there is a no more flourishing business than that of which Mrs. Leslie is the sole proprietor.
Perhaps the strictest financier today and the richest woman in America is Mrs. Hetty Green, of New York. She is known to all by the little green satchel that she carries on her arm, in which are stored stocks and securities. She is the only woman who has ever dared to venture a deal with Wall Street brokers, and in no investment has she ever been known to lose. It took the skillful financiering of a woman to restore prosperity to a people whose ruin had nearly been effected by the errors of the two preceding kings. Might not the wisdom displayed by the Virgin Queen be helpful in these later times to a people now beset by similar difficulties ?
Mrs. Smythe, of North Dakota, is a woman whose farming interests cover many square miles, and she grows annually thousands of bushels of golden grain. She has her overseers and superintendents subject to her orders, but she is the supreme director of all her interests. She invests her mioney in real estate, and from the yearly rentals she is enabled to carry on her large farming interests without borrowing or going in debt. Are there many gentlemen farmers who can boast as much? These few illus- trations called from here and there are cited, not for the purpose of advocating woman's rights, but simply in proof of her ability as a financier; an ability which is among the God given rights with which she is endowed, and which man in full justice to her is bound to recognize. I am not an advocate of woman's rights in the oppro- brious sense of that expression. I do not care to sec-hope never to see the women of America leave the quiet sanctity of their homes and thrust themselves out into the political world. I could not be so untrue to that mother who taught me that modesty was the cloak of protection to be worn by woman. I could not be so untrue to my religion, the religion of my father, which has taught me that the good woman " opencth her mouth with wisdom, and in her tongue is the law of kindness, " that "she looketh well to the ways of her household and eateth not the bread of idleness." Nay, I could never advocate any right that would place woman where the blush of shame would never mantle her cheek, or where the chivalry of man would refuse to accord her that honor which is every true woman's duc.
In closing this little paper which I only offer as containing some suggestive thoughts, I know of no more beautiful and encouraging example to women in the financial world than the work that has been accomplished by her at this Exposition now in progress. These walls and all that they contain are grand monuments to her energy, patience and financial skill.
All honor then to the noble daughters of America who have conceived the plan of all this work and have successfully carried it into execution!
A FEW NOTED WRITERS OF THE SOUTH.
By MRS. J. W. DRURY.
Among the writers of the South, we include the names of men who wrote their works in deeds, as well as in words. It seems fitting in this "Columbian Year," while the peoples of all lands are with us, pleased to share in our rejoicings, that we should mingle with our thanks- givings praises of the men who planted firmly the standard of freedom, in this, the fairest portion of the New World. In love of country we recognize no dividing lines; but the brief time at command will permit only the mention of a few brilliant names-in the departments of state, science and letters-from one section: Omitting living writers, Virginia occu- pies the place of honor in the federation of states, as the " Mother of Presidents," from the fact, that of the first five chief executives four were natives of Vir- ginia, and were re-elected: Later there were natives of the same state similarly honored. Her colonial history will ever present peculiar attractions to the English-speaking races, as Virginia was the first of the American colonies settled by the English.
The first book written on the American soil came from the "Old Dominion," entitled "Good News from Virginia." Its author, Dr. Alexander Whitaker, came to America, impelled by the desire to do mis- MRS. J. W. DRURY. sionary work in the new land. It was he who baptized the gentle Pocahontas, and gave her hand in marriage to one of the race, hated by her savage father.
A review of colonial rule is potent, to render us content with the social and polit- ical conditions of self-government -- moreover vividly illustrates the rapid strides of progress in the preceding two centuries. The following is a concise picture of the colony of Virginia under the rule of Sir William Berkley, Governor-given in his own words as quoted-" The population is forty thousand. There are forty-eight parishes, and the ministers are well paid. But" adds the governor, " I thank God there are no free schools, nor printing, and I hope we shall not have these hundred years; for learning has brought disobedience, and heresy, and sects into the world, and printing has divulged them, and libels, against the best government. God keeps us from both."
The testy governor's wish was fulfilled in part-one hundred years succeeded filled with struggles for larger liberty, which in the end of the century, culminated in the Revolutionary period. It is grateful and fitting to commence this literary survey, with the most prominent actor of this epoch. A learned critic says that George Washing- ton was so immeasurably great in other respects that it seems almost profanation to speak of him as the writer. Yet his writings fill twelve octavo volumes, and are a val-
Mrs. John Wilson Drury was born at Butternutts, Otsego County, N. Y. Her parents were Rev. Isaac Garvin and Lucy Bostwick Garvin. Mrs. Drury was educated at Aurora Seminary, New York, but her most valued lessons were from her father, a graduate of Dartmouth College, who was a man of wide and varied learning. She has traveled extensively in her own country and in foreign lands. She married, in 1881, Judge John Wilson Drury, of Chicago, Ill. Her princi- pal literary work has been as a newspaper correspondent, during her travels. In religious faith she is an Episcopalian, and is a communicant of the church. Her postoffice address is Milan, Ill.
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uable part of the political history of the time. He had formed for himself a style, the unconscious outgrowth of his character, which is as distinctly marked as his hand- writing. Even his "farewell address" -- in which he invited the co-operation of Madison, Hamilton and Jay-gave unmistakable evidence of the molding hand of its original author.
Thomas Jefferson's imperishable fame owes its existence not to the fact that he was third President of the American Republic. He won the laurel of immortality by writing the " Declaration of Independence," a document whose exalted sentiment is conveyed in diction worthy the most famous of classic writers. His public life embraced forty-two years. Yet amid all the exciting rivalries of political life, he found time to retreat to the Shades of Monticello, and devoted thought to letters, and perfected his plans for founding the University of Virginia, a monument alone suffi- cient to perpetuate his name and memory.
Of the famed orators who thrilled the statesmen and the country before the War of the Revolution we lament that there is no record which embalms their eloquence for all coming time. Even the Divine gift of Patrick Henry-ever indescribable, ever unapproachable-is only a tradition. Had his pen been gifted as his tongue, we should today have need of no other theme. Richard Henry Lee was only second to Patrick Henry in fervid eloquence. He was proficient in Latin and Greek; also was a deep student and lover of the classics, by which his oratory was greatly enriched.
In the councils of the United Colonies, an assemblage of intellectual giants, Lee introduced the memorable resolution which kindled a fiery debate, and led to the motion that a committee be appointed to draft a declaration of independence. Of this committee Lee, according to usage, should have been chairman. Illness in his family unexpectedly called him away. On the following day the committee was appointed, with Jefferson as chairman. By this simple incident or accident, Richard Henry Lee lost the crown of glory which will ever rest upon the brow of Thomas Jefferson. We must believe it wisely ordered that Lee's eminent compatriot was called to pen the immortal page which entitles him to the high rank-first of South- ern writers.
Of the statesmen of the first three decades of this century, none were more prom- inent than William Wirt. In 1807 he won wide distinction in the famous trial of Aaron Burr for high treason. In the War of 1812 he was an ardent patriot, engaging in active military duty. In the forum he displayed the same enthusiasm with undaunted mein, breaking a lance with Pinkney and Webster; plumed knights, before whom the stout- est heart might quail. Despite the pressing duties of public life he found time for purely literary work. His writings were varied. He left upon record that a literary career, above all others, would have been most congenial to his tastes. The average reader will remember him as author of the biography of Patrick Henry.
With the war in which William Wirt acted a subordinate part is associated another name, which will be remembered so long as heaven's spangled azure proclaims upon every sea, and to all nations, the Divine origin of the American Republic. Francis Scott Key was born in Frederick County, Maryland, and educated at St. John's College, Annapolis.
Like Hopkinson, he is indebted for literary celebrity to the composition of a single patriotic song, "The Star Spangled Banner." It was composed in 1814 on the occasion of the bombardment of Fort McHenry, when the author was a prisoner in the hands of the attacking British.
The same period, from 1780 to 1851, is adorned by the name of John James Audu- bon. Louisiana proudly claims him as an honored son. He was of French descent. He engaged first in commercial pursuits, but finding himself strongly drawn toward the study of birds he decided to follow the bent of his mind. After nearly half a life- time spent in this pursuit Audubon visited Europe to obtain subscribers for his great work, " The Birds of America." He was everywhere received with applause. The most distinguished men of the time, Humboldt, Herschel, Sir Walter Scott, Jeffreys
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and Wilson, warmly commended him and his work. Wilson, of " Blackwood's maga- zine," said of him: " He is the greatest artist in his own walk that ever lived."
Matthew Fontaine Maury is a name as familiar to the civilized world as that of Aububon. "Wind," "Current Charts," and " Physical Geography of the Sea," would be sufficient to render the author famous. Yet these are but a small part of the works which have proven of incalculable benefit to science and navigation. His fame rests upon his services in behalf of science.
The first half of the century presents a sharp contrast to the last in the scope and character of woman's sphere. Southern skies and perpetual sunshine had imparted a luster to the eye, a glow to the cheek, and an enthusiasm and vivacity which distin- guished peculiarly the daughters of the South.
The famous beauties of " Lady Washington's Court," as the official circle of the first administration was termed, live in history. Their pictures so faithfully painted, that we are familiar with their traits and features as though they were of our world today.
In this early period the most rarely gifted women, pre-eminent in grace of speech and manner, matchless in physical endowments, were content to shine as queens in home and society. We can only afford time to present the representative from each sphere.
Dolly Madison, wife of the fourth President, is ever described as the brilliant leader of the official circle, not by the strong hand of power, as "First Lady of the Land," but by the magic qualities of beauty and worth combined, she captured all hearts, and today it is deemed a distinguished compliment to her successor to liken her popularity to that of Mrs. Madison.
A perfect example of home-life is witnessed in the mother of George Washing- ton. If the grand life of the son truly interpreted the lessons graven upon his heart by his mother, then we may pronounce Mary Washington " best writer of the South," and one whose work representing motherhood in other myriad homes atones the absence of literary celebrities among her Southern countrywomen. It is interesting to note that the women of the entire country in this eventful year of woman's progress, have signified their appreciation of Mary Washington's greatness by joining in the successful effort to erect a monument to her memory.
Time will suffice only to present one other name so world-renowned that the fame is American as well as Southern. A sculptured bust, dark with the shadow of the sable raven, is a familiar picture in all lands. In every home where classic Pallas fills an ideal niche, is the name of Edgar Allan Poe as familiar as household words. Un- known to society or fame, upon the publication of the "Raven," the author suddenly became a lion, and his writings were eagerly sought after by publishers.
The American poet, from beneath the black shadow of the " Raven," echoes the despairing cry, " My soul from out that shadow shall be lifted never more." We fain would believe that in the distant "Aiden" there is a " balm " for soaring souls allied to hearts of sin and sorrow. Yet the knell of hope, " My soul is dark," is wafted from the new to the old, and in that shadow the memory of America's greatest poet ever rests.
PIANO PLAYING WITHOUT PIANO PRACTICING.
By MISS MARY VENETTE HAYES.
In this age of advanced ideas, when the entire system of educating children is being so happily re-constructed, I have noticed with surprise that one evil has appar- ently escaped the attention of the broad-minded men and women to whose efforts the change of senti- ment is largely due, and that is, the injury done to little children by long continued hours of piano prac- ticing.
From my own observation and experience I con- clude that our common system of musical training, employed in many music schools and colleges, robs children of more mental and physical strength than can be restored in a lifetime.
A child is placed in a room by itself to master insurmountable difficulties, to play scales and exer- cises in endless repetition, and to lift its little hands up and down hundreds of times, like an automatic machine, to "strengthen the wrist," as it is called in professional parlance. What wonder, then, that both body and mind suffer under the inaction, the nerves are overstrained by the tiresome and wearying task, and more than all, the wonderful music spirit flies away unnoticed and unsought. The essence of music is not a part of notes, books or instruments; but this MISS MARY VENETTE HAYES. is seldom appreciated by the pupil or mentioned by the teacher until in later years, when the struggle to cultivate the musical intelligence beconies exceedingly difficult because of its having been dulled by the repetition of tones without any idea of their power of expression or their value in relation to each other.
The blending of color is most essential to the artistic beauty of a picture. A pink tree in a landscape would immediately excite comment, as also the omission of a fca- ture of the face in a portrait, yet such monstrosities in the interpretation of music scarcely attract attention.
Can not young children be taught to be tone painters ? It should be as interesting to a child to study a melody which wholly absorbs its mind as to read a fairy tale. Not only would the musical imagination be stimulated, but because of the melody being all-absorbing, the child would unconsciously learn notes, rhythms and phrasing, just as it should learn to read a book without giving the reading a thought, being so absorbed in the story.
But nowadays children are overwhelmed with difficulties which cramp their men- tal powers and crush their enthusiasm.
It is not meant that all children should study music-the rose and the wildflower each have their climate and their soil.
If every child who studies music were destined to become an artist, possibly there might be more merit in modern methods, but since only a very small proportion ever
Miss Mary Venette Hayes was born in Chicago, IlI. Her parents were Americans. She was educated in Chicago. Miss Hayes is engaged in the development of the musical intelligence of children. Her work in this line is meeting with great success and attracting wide attention. Her postoffice address is No. 189 Cass Street, Chicago, II].
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reach this consummation, the sacrifice required to secure a technical training which is afterward entirely lost, must be considered comparatively useless.
If instead of the long hours of practicing the child's attention was directed to the importance of listening to music and studying its history, as well as the various works of the great masters, and the interpretation of their ideas, its musical intel- ligence would develop as a flower unfolds, and the child though unable to execute on any instrument, would nevertheless be an artist and a musician.
ยท It is a mistaken idea to believe classical music may not be appreciated by a child. I was convinced of this when taking a little girl seven years of age to a rehearsal of the Apollo Club, it being the first chorus or music of the kind she had ever heard. She was greatly interested throughout the entire performance, and that same evening at home sung several measures of the chorus perfectly. She, of course, had an exceptional memory, but as we all know, it is " the exception that proves the rule."
Even in the hope of becoming a virtuoso more rapid and intelligent progress would undoubtedly be made by devoting more time during the first years of study to musical analysis.
Having been greatly interested in the latent musical ability of children, believing the inadequacy of present methods responsible for its slow development, I determined to prove the truth of my theories by putting them into practical execution, and so chose a class where my ideas would not be restricted to methods which I did not approve. As many others in emergency, I turned to Miss Jane Addams, of the Hull House, who found the class for me at once, and has since been its chief friend, providing a room in which to meet and doing all in her power to contribute to its success.
When hearing the children had no pianos in their homes, I greatly doubted the success of the experiment, but the thirty eager faces that appeared in response to Miss Addams' call reassured me, as I realized that this was the opportunity for discovering what could be accomplished without practicing. Their ignorance was perfect for my purpose, the majority never having touched a piano, and not having the least idea how to move the fingers from one key to another. Having but one piano at our dis- posal, we were obliged to substitute something else with which to accomplish our work, and began by playing simple technical exercises on a table, or anything that would support the hand, sometimes singing the tones and sometimes accompanied with the piano, in order to learn rhythm and melody simultaneously. In this way an excellent idea of pitch was soon acquired, which will be illustrated later.
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