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Entered at Second Class Postage Rates.
WOMAN’S WORK,
A MAGAZINE OF'
LITEKATUKE AND DOMESTIC SCIENCE.
PUBLISHED MONTHLY, AT ATHENS, GEORGIA.
ONE DOLLAR PER YEAR. TEN CENTS PER COPY.
EDITED b\J RATE GAREAND,
Assisted by the Bost Talent.
QUESTIONS of various and sundry import come to me—some in
conversation about the conduct of Woman’s Work, some by
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letter, some through other magazines and newspapers. To a few
criticisms and commendations I have given a certain amount of my
page this year—not with my fullest sanction, but because I hoped
that such informal discussions and considerations might prove of
some benefit. Personal matters are almost invariably out of place
in a magazine, yet there are many valuable lessons to be deducted
from personal experiences, and these may be presented to the world
without the slightest impropriety.
I often think what valuable results might follow to the individu
al, to the home, and to the outside world, if each man and woman
would keep a diary and carefully note the occurrences of daily life:
not the details of dresses made, or receptions attended, or chickens
fed, or shoe strings purchased—though every cent of outlay might
well find its way into a family expense book: not so much the loca
tion and dates of events, even prominent ones, as the lessons conveyed
and the influences exerted by happenings both great and small.
Ah, great indeed to some heart may be the consequences of a
word or act deemed trivial by others; how great we may never know
unless a sensitive nature confines to us the realized joys or the life
long stings that ofttimes follow and remain after some slight domes
tic happening, all unnoticed by those who are looking on!
How strange, yea more than strange, that we know so very little
even of those who are nearest to us ana who love us best! And how
impossible of comprehension that each one usually believes the fault
to exist entirely in the other! Perhaps a diary—a sort of heart and
soul record —would often be a valuable means toward a better under
standing of self and others, toward giving others a better understand
ing of their influence in building and beautifying, or destroying that
which has been built.
* * *
IARY-KEEPING is rather remotely connected (if connected at
all) with the subjects which were first in my mind to-day, but it
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is nothing amiss to say that, in addition to its possible influence over
the individual and the home character, it may be found avast agency
for mental development, a helpful guide to the exercise of judgment
and charity and that deepest of love which is based on unselfishness.
Any man or woman of intelligence may keep a record of “things
that came into my life to-day’’ in such manner as to make very inter
esting reading matter; if this can be accomplished with real soul
benefit to the author, with no unkind or uncalled-for reflections on
others, then real genius has been proven, and there is no reason why
many minds and many homes may not feel the inspiration which ex
perience hath brought into the one life.
If family differences exist, and there is a temptation to intro
duce these into the record pages, then defer the opening of a diary
until the difficulties have been closed. Family discord should not be
shut within the folds of a book, neither opened in any form for the
inspection of others; but if tears must water such weeds of discord
let them be shed in the bright sunshine of faith, that a rainbow of
love may forthwith illumine them and show the erstwhile blighted
buds transformed into fragrant flowers of happiness.
I have just had an illustration of how little things make lasting
impressions and often prove an unerring index to character. Several
years ago a gentleman said to me that he had that day occupied a
railroad seat with a New York merchant whom ho had previously
known only by name. A chance acquaintance resulted and my friend
said to me: “That man is not to be trusted; we hadn’t talked fifteen
minutes before he was telling hie of family troubles, mixed in with
boasts of business successes.’’
Only a few days since my friend recalled to my mind this conver
sation with his acquaintance of an hour, saying: “I have never seen
or heard of him since, until to-day his name is in the newspapers as
having been for many years engaged in swindling operations which
not only robbed people of money, but endangered their lives.”
*“ * *
DIARY is supposed to deal with personal matters, but there is
such a thing as making it too personal, and to decide what shall
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be put in and what shall be left out is a right good test of judgment.
It is well to be conservatively truthful, for there is always danger in
extremes of any kind. There is no good to come of always disparag
ing self, and it is certainly not m good taste to indulge extensively in
self-praise. The chronicler may be thoroughly convinced that she is
the best manager and the most perfect housekeeper to be found any
where on the face of the globe; but there is always the possibility of
being honestly mistaken, and if these things are true it will prove a
more genuine triumph when they are discovered by others in the ab
sence of all ostentatious parade.
A little judicious exercise in looking for the good qualities of
others will hardly fail to result in great pleasure and benefit. We
will find many bright places in life that have been unknown to us
simply because we have been indifferent to them. They have existed
all the while, perhaps, but we have been blind to them and there was
no special inducement for them to shine forth in our presence.
WOMAN’S WORK.
Ah, what beauty and strength of spirit may be developed and in
vited forth by an atmosphere of congenial friendship and loving en
couragement! It seems like creating that much gladness and happi
ness, but in reality it is only discovering and recognizing that which
was already in existence —that which only needed to be called forth
by smiles and cordial appreciation; and, after all, where is the differ
ence? If our neglect and general air of indifference keeps back glad
spirits that long to be called forth and to contribute towards making
the world a better and brighter world, then we have murdered that
much of human enjoyment. If some little word or act of ours may
develop such spirit of sunshine, then we are in effect creators of sun
shine and love and happiness.
* * *
EN AND WOMEN strive for worldly possessions—some that
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because they really suppose that riches will bring happiness, some
because they wish to leave wealth for their children and their child
ren’s children. Perhaps the desire for independent means is a natu
ral and worthy ambition, if not allowed to dwarf the mind and soul
and make us blind to the higher and better interests of life.
The danger is that the human heart may become so intent on
riches as to forget that there are superior objects for ambition and
effort: lest we make this mistake it were well for each of us to look
carefully about us and meditate somewhat on the things that seem to
bring real contentment in the lives of our acquaintances. We will
probably find that, after all, there is but little real difference between
the rich and the poor, and that the scales of human affairs are much
more delicately adjusted than we have been wont to believe.
We will find that good health is wealth indeed, and that its abode is oftener
the humble cot than the palace grand.
We will find that a very small proportion of the wealth about us is used in the
interest of real good and happiness, and that all the balance is really waste —yea
and burdensome waste.
We will find that a contented disposition is worth more than all the product
of government mints, and that the ability to be happy is the richest endowment
known to humankind.
We speak of being independently wealthy, as if a certain amount of gold or
silver or lands or precious stones might constitute independence; whereas, true
independence of heart and of spirit doth not reckon with sums of coin, but wit.i
an invisible tie Which links the human to the divine, and makes it possible for
the lowliest to be the richest and happiest among men.
It is a commendable thing for parents to be concerned for the future welfare
of their children: would that they might realize that their true success will not
depend on the amount of inherited stocks and bonds, but on the ability to look
beyond the little questions of wealth and display aud social position, and behold
that steady and lasting light which comes from the true gems of consecration to
duty aud contentment in the service of loved ones.
♦ * *
‘HINK of grown men and women fretting their lives away over trivial disap
pointments that should be dismissed with nothing more than a passing
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thought! Yet time and again do we see this very thing—whole days and house
holds made miserable by some misguided nature magnifying a molehill of thought
lessness into a mountain of maliciousness.
Perhaps a wife has overlooked some little request of her husband, and he—
poor weak aud wounded baby that he is—must slam the door and go off with
words of complaint ou his lips, to make sure that she will have something to
trouble her all day and that she will duly beg his lordship’s pardou when he “con
descends to return’’ to the place they know as home!
Perhaps a husband has forgotten some slight purchase for his wife, and she
—to show the power of a woman’s will—must devote the balance of a precious
day to pouting and fretting and giving a practical demonstration in the discom
forts of purgatory!
Yet these grown-up babies have vowed eternal loyalty and sworn before God
and mankind to love, honor and cherish each other through sunshine and shad
ow to the end of the way!
Possibly a partial sense of self-respect will prompt an outward show of con
sideration for husband or wife, but error on the part of child or servant or neigh
bor will prove the signal for a violent outbreak of anger, or introduce an aggravat
ing spell of stolid perverseness.
Think you that I exaggerate? Then lam glad that these shadowed places of
life have not come under your observation—that you have found no exceptions to
the rule of good nature and harmony and love, in which I firmly believe.
Where shall we locate the cause for these dark spots on the otherwise fair
pages of Time’s record? I believe it lies all along the way; that it begins in the
pampering of the infant, that it takes deeper root in the uncontrolled whims of
the humored child, that it is encouraged by inconsistency in the example of par
ents, that it becomes firmly fixed as a result of narrow-minded selfishness in the
thought and practice of tne unfortunate adult.
Blessed be contentment; thrice blessed they who make other lives contented!
* * *
OME WELL-MEANING friend has discovered a vein of pessimism in all I
1 write, and wishes to know why Ido not confine myself to finding and ad-
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miring the good qualities of mankind in preference to pointing out the weak
nesses and sins that mar the way of life.
I appreciate such suggestions as this, for if there is one thing that I earnestly
desire ic is that the little influence I exert may be towards a broad-minded and
beautiful optimism. It has been my purpose to make this plain through Woman’s
Work, and even now I hope that very few have so far misconstrued my inten
tions as to detect pessimistic sentiments in my poorly expressed ideas.
When 1 have called attention to the selfishness of men and women it has been
with the hope of showing by contrast the beauty of generous charity. When I
have recognized human weaknesses it has been to beg that they may be sup
planted by the elevating power of strength. When I have mentioned the discord
that unfortunately creeps into the home life of some families, it has been with the
desire to see peace and congeniality inaugurated in its stead. When attention has
been called to the thorns of life it has been for the purpose of increasing appreci
ation for the roses. When the clouds have been called dark it has always been
with the reminder that the sun is just beyond and ready to burst forth with in
creasing beauty for those who appreciate’ its brightness and its warmth.
Ah, me! Let even my best friends recognize my faults, but let no one mis
take me for a pessimist. It is because I have faith in humanity that I look be
yond these frailties and plainly see a time when the vast possibilities of life will
be better understood and more fully appreciated. It is because 1 know good is
present in every heart and soul that I feel deeper regret if evil gains the mastery.
Would that 1 might point out the path of usefulness (therefore of happiness)
to every human being, and show how much more delightful are the ways of light
than those of darkness—how grand a thing it is to do even a little something to
lead our fellow creatures onward and upward as we journey towards the end of
this existence!
I he years may be brief, and sometimes the discouragements may seem great,
but always there is noble work for hands that are willing—rich reward for the
faithful in well-doing.
I would send a word of cheer to the faint-hearted, a ray of light to any who
may find the way dark, an assurance of faith in the ability of every one to do some
thing for others and thereby make sure of unfailing reward, of merited happiness.
OCTOBER, 1904