The Argosy — page 210: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

194 Female Suffrage. the neat farm kitchen—it is a proud thing for her, on the day of election for county or borough, to be able to say, “‘ My six sons have all votes and I know they will be on the side which all my hfe I have thought the nght one.” If women are ambitious, here is surely something worth their striving after. And what shall we say to her who, remembering the great Apostle’s words, has chosen the single life ? As a vision of sweetness and of mercy, she glides from house to house in the crowded, busy town, or trips, like a friendly spirit, up and down the muddy lanes of the remote country village. She stands in the manufactory, and teaches the workmen to find music in even each puff of the engine and each stroke of the hammer. She sits on the stile near the farmer and his labourers, and shows them how to read about Heaven in every leaf and blade of grass around. She goes boldly into the navvies’ shed by the line, where evil words are flying about so thickly, and at her coming all is hushed. She sits in the hospital by the bed of the broken down gentleman, who has come there through misuse of God’s good gifts, or of the strong man struck . down in the midst of his sin. To all those men she is a woman, and yet more than a woman; she is one who administers, and yet one to whom homage must bepaid. Whether she is a woman who clings to old forms, who would not move with a finger the smallest stone in the ancient building of Church and State, or whether she is one of broader thought and more all-embracing charity, she is certain in her goings in ‘and out among these men to instil into them her own opinions. Then, again, the influence is great of her who holds the pen ; that peaceful weapon, which fits so well the female hand, but which is, never- theless so mighty in its sway. She has but to clothe her thoughts in words and they find their way into thousands of homes. English boys and girls, growing up in lands beyond the sea, learn to think with her thoughts. They who have never seen her face or heard her voice speak lovingly her name. She is ruler over hearts; perhaps can make us swell in anger or melt in pity. The ideas she gives forth are discussed’ by the roadside and in the snug library. Her mind per- meates other minds and tinges them with its colour. We fully be- lieve that if a band of the literary sisterhood were to agree to try to abolish any one of the few real grievances of their sex, such as the right of a worthless husband to take his wife’s earnings, they could make such a stir in public opimion that it would be abolished. And can women with this wide influence stoop to pray and cry out for so comparatively small a privilege as the suffrage? Surely a Queen might as well come down from her throne to beg for a gaudy paste diamond to be added to her crown. Even the single woman, without any especial calling, has in her hands a strong power for lead- ing others into her way of thinking, if only she will boldly, yet x praoet Se COMIC OOO (CO) in —_)