The Golden age. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1906-1915, February 16, 1911, Image 10

The Golden age., February 16, 1911, Page 10, Image 10

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Newspaper Page Text10 & THE HOUSEHOLD & A Department of Expression Tor Those Who Teel and Think. THE ANGEL IN THE CHOIR I see her every holy day, In Sabbath garb arrayed— A creature, scarce of mortal clay, Yet modeled like a maid; A creature formed of human clay, Yet touched with Heaven’s fire — A seraph of the Sabbath day, The angel of the choir. Beneath her bodice’s muslin folds Her pulses chastely beat, And oh, the smile that lights her face! Was ever smile so sweet? Her soaring song ascends on high— The lark goes scarcely higher— And all my being thrills response— Glad angel of the choir. Her brow is broad; each after each Across her radiant face Does wave of white, then wave of red, Each one the other chase. ’Tis only human to discern; ’Tis human to admire; And so I list, and so I yearn— Oh, angel of the choir! A dream of smiles and clinging arms, Os peace beyond compare; The vision of a happy hearth, With children’s faces fair, □ □ CHAT □□ I have before requested my House hold family, men and women, to tell us, in a few words, their views in the matter of the vote being given to wo men. This is one of the paramount questions of the day. Once (particu larly in the South) it was a subject not to be taken seriously—to be re garded as a joke —or as an insult to modest femininity. That idea has long ago been laid aside. The changed conditions of women have brought about a change in opinion as regards their relations to government. The number of independent working wo men has grown into an army of six millions. Many of these are unmar ried and many are taxpayers. Women are reading and thinking as never be fore —interesting themselves in what pertains to framing and carrying out law r s and electing officers to direct State affairs. Not women alone, but many good and influential men, are asking the question: Ought not women to share in this question? In a number of the States the test has been made. Women have been given the ballot and the record is that they have wisely in fluenced legislation, that they have helped to purify politics and to elect good men to office. Men —the most reliable men of the States in which women vote —have given this verdict in their favor. In Australia that vast continental possession of Great Britain —women have for years been recognized as a beneficial factor in government affairs, and the rulers of the great dependency declare that much benefit has accrued to the coun try since women have taken part in its government. Men assert that only women rightly know how to make laws to advance the best interest of the home, the school, the child and th© mother. It would be interesting to have the Views of our Southern women on this Arthur Good nough. She is at present not remote (Kind Fortune, bring her nigher), And bless the echoes of her throat, Bright angel of the choir. Across the church I watch her sac A vision good to see; But oh, her blissful glance goes by! It is not meant for me! Her song, exultant to the dome, Ascends now high and higher— What charm of inspiration fills The angel of the choir? The sunshine through the tinted glass O’erwhelms her like a flood, And some an orange splendor spills, And some is red as blood. I gaze upon her, and a dream Unfolds before my eyes, A daring dream, I must not let The callous world surmise. O cease, my brain, with thoughts to thrill! O throbbing pulse, be still! She does not know your broken dream, Does not, and never will; But it is human to discern, Not less so to desire, And we must fail that we may learn, Sweet angel of the choir! the question of the hour, which has gone so far beyond the old-time face tious, fun-making fashion in which it used to be treated by men, while wo men echoed the masculine sentiment loudly, for fear they would be thought unfeminine if they even hinted that they believed themselves entitled to a privilege that was given to densely ignorant men and to negroes. Personally, I do not covet the privi lege of voting—l have little interest in politics. It’s methods do not ap peal to me, but I have no right to con sult my individual feelings in a mat ter that affects millions o r my sister women —their homes and their chil dren. The question is not how do you, individually, like the idea of taking part in controlling the destinies of the land you live in, but do you conscien tiously think the affairs of State and the making of laws would be purified and made more beneficial to home and society if women took part in the conduct of these? Women in the Northern and Middle States are freely expressing their views—with plenty of good thought as the basis of their beliefs. I would like to hear what women of the South are thinking in regard to the pressing question of the day. A Tennessee woman, writing to me, says: “First of all, women, when they can. should he home-makers, but numbers of women are unmarried, and I see no reason why those who are mar ried should not take an interest in the way the big house of the nation is kept. Thousands of widows and sin gle women are bread-winners and tax payers. They keep up with the times —think and read —and are competent to do business. Being the mothers of the nation, why should they be re stricted in anything? The jokes on suffragists, like those on mothers-in law, are stale. Sensible people see no The Golden Age for February 16, 1911. sense in them and no fun, either. I believe men and. women should co operate in everything that is for the general good.” This same correspondent has opin ions concerning the question of mar riage and race suicide. She says: “I believe every woman and man should marry at a suitable age, even if both of them have to work outside to make a home. Companionship of woman does much to restrain a man and make him save up something for a rainy day or for old age. I believe in large families when the married pair are healthy, congenial, and have ways and wills to support and educate the children. Life means so much more to a family man than to a bach elor; the former takes a higher moral and social position—responsibility gives him a stronger character. I have seen fine, large, brainy women who had only one or two children, when they could easily mother a dozen. Then I have seen many weak, sickly, incompetent mothers of eight or ten ill-kept, neglected little ones.” A Personal Word. The sad news comes to us that the brave hero sufferer, Tom Lockhart, so long lying on his mattress grave moveless as a figure of stone, but cheerful and intellectually strong, is at last yielding to the fierce struggle with pain and disease. The gallant spirit, the courageous soul that made this man—the most wonderful of hu man being—not only live through astonishing conditions but lived uncom plainingly, cheerfully, lovingly toward all human kind—is at last drooping and weary. The two fingers which supported him for twenty years by writing the bright strong thoughts and humorous fancies of his brain are flagging at last. Not for long, so his friends ardently hope, but his brave heart sinks when he sees before him a future of dependence—days in which he can write no more to enable him to pay the expenses of food and fire and the services of the most faith ful nurse that patient ever had. Friends, let us help Tom Lockhart in his great strait. Do not let it be said that the most afflicted, yet the bravest and brightest of spirits passed away with a sense of neglect and a lack of friendly aid. Let us help him to regain his health and spirits—if possible for the sake of the good he has done the world and may still do it. Let us each send an order for some of his little cheery inexpensive books. His address is Wellington. Missouri. M. E. B. Wttb Our Gorrewonbents UP IN THE AIR. The aereoplane journey suggested by our mater was so delightfully pleasant that I forthwith looked my machine over, examining its very in tricate parts in order to be sure there were no defects that might cause a precipitate return to Mother Earth; I carefully tested the propeller, exam ined the steering apparatus, looked after the gasoline supply particularly, so as not to be caught "up in the air” without enough of this very neces sary article to last the trip, as the coming to earth is said to be very un pleasant if the machinery should sud denly stop. After all the preliminaries had been looked after, I found myself safely launched with but one passenger to accompany me, and to whom I gave over the management of the rudder. From East Tennesse, over the moun tains, across Georgia and to the gar den spot of Florida, where our brother, “Grandpa and the Missus” have made their home on the “model farm” seem ed mere child’s play when taken via aeroplane route, especially when one has placed the responsibility on some one else of getting there and effecting a safe landing. We arrived there near the noon hour and, before we landed, we saw Grandpa coming from his garden car rying a basket of fine lettuce, rad ishes and other early vegetables. After circling the place, we alighted in the middle of their lovely green lawn, where we were soon greeted by the Missus and Grandpa, and after I had been introduced to them by my traveling companion, who knew them very well, we were cordially invited into the house. Soon we were in an animated conversation, we answering ques tions about our air voyage south ward and they telling us, in answer to our questions, about their beautiful farm. In a short time dinner was an nounced, and I assure you we did it justice; had I the time and space, I should like to tell you of the vege tables and fruits, all from the farm, with which the table was loaded . After dinner we were shown the well cultivated garden and orchard, the flowers which grew in profusion and were scattered all about in every available place for a plant to grow making the home seem to have been built among flowers growing in their wild abandonment instead of their having been planted about the house. The stables for the horses and cows, the chicken yards and houses were the neatest and most perfectly kept that I have ever seen. One of the most noticeable things we saw was the birds, of almost every kind, which gathered regularly to be fed by some one of the family; even the Bob White brought his family to gather up the grain that had been scattered for them in the more secluded parts of the lawn. Our stay was, of necessity, a short one, but every moment was an in spiiation and a joy to us; our own little farm home, just outside our city limits, will no doubt receive many improvements on account of the visit. "TENNESSEAN.” PROVIDENCE. An old man toiled in his garden and fields, f- Till his back was bent and tris strength was spent, Then stopping he said, "I have done my best, I will leave with God to do the rest.” His grand-children gathered from his garden and fields Rich fruit and grain till their time was spent, Then resting they said, "We have done our best, We will leave with God to do the rest.” The birds flew into the garden and fields, Gleaming and eating to their con tent, Then singing glad songs, their very best, Joyfully left God to do the rest. MATTIE HOWARD.