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Show WOMAN'S INFLUENCE AND SPHERE. (Written for The Intermountain Catholic Much has been said, written and sung of woman's sphere, and we find her today in every walk and path of life that has been open to man. With demand de-mand for her labor daily increasing in various pursuits, from which she has hitherto been barred. Making a suc-, suc-, cess of her undertakings, guiding, counseling, judging and encouraging by h- r sweet words of comfort and her power of endurance. It fan truly be said, "she is indeed a blessing," where her labor is expended for the betterment of mankind. By her noble self-sustaining qualities, she is empowered with victory on all sides in what.-wr she undertakes. Animated J throughout by the ardent desire to excel, there is no amount of application too great for her. She has achieved distinction along all lines wheresoever she has entered. We find her in the sick-room gently nursing back to health some half-dead nee Ml. never for a moment complaining, complain-ing, but with all the sublimity of self- j ' ' a"ritkf. tenderly caring for the one whose life is entrusted to her watchful and earnest care. We can just step outside the sick chamber and here we will lnd another sphere wh.-re she is the center attraction and where all that is noble in life emanates from. Here in this lofty position she. herself, flr.ds her own haven of rest, where she can .lisscn inate her knowledge and en ere is? her wonderful power of influence influ-ence upn the world through her own , family. This is the sublime state of j motherhood. Ah. to many of us that dear, sweet name of mother comes j down through the sun-kissed clouds j like a summer dream about to be real- j i iz.-d. Arid when we think of her who j was placed over v.s for a few short years and then taken away, we allow v.ur thoughts to wander back until the ' panorama f childhood's happy days ', i;oat before our gaze and we once more dwell upon that dear, sweet face and form that done so much for us. and ! who was the holy inspiration of all that was noble and beautiful; long may hT memory stiil live and linger in our bosoms. Those who have been, so fortunate for-tunate and thrice blessed to have her guiding hand to rule them through their childhood years and into manhood man-hood and womanhood's harbor safely . .u.-.;.. lvi rl: nan never know the I loss of what a mother's love means to j the motherless ones, their life full of : ii dse except what is most needed j maternal love alone. This sphere is indeed in-deed the highest and loftiest one she may ever expect to reach, for here lies her mighty ruling power with which the destinies of ages are governed, and it is in this sphere alone she can influ- j nee and control nations and even the i ' world. In this sphere she will never j realize the magnitude of her power over all people and all nations. She may seek wealth, fame and honor, near ': and abroad, but there is no fame or publicity that brings such "universal ' joy to her heart as she experiences within the realms -of her household. ' where she is adored and worshiped as its queen. 1 - We also find wromart in various other ' st.heros which some years ago were not ' open 'to her. Since she has proven her : adaptability for many of the bread- winning occupations of life, she is at ! last welcomed and appreciated by those ; who place implicit trust in her mental ,: endowments, seeing her fully equipped ! ; to meet the many hard battles of the i world by her keen perception and intui- r tive qualities of mind. Her judgment and far-sightedness guiding her over ' ' ' many narrow and dangerous precipices , j ( on the broad current of the, commercial ! i world. i We are indebted to woman for intcl- ; lectual assistance, but are indebted ' most of all to her for moral support ' ard sympathy. A noble-minded woman -unconsciously elevates the character Of llt,r husband and family, while one of a ! groveling mature as certainly tends to degrade them. We can find her transacting trans-acting ni siftins the niost difficult problems of commerce and trade with I great case and facility. And often she is the silent partner of many a prosperous pros-perous and flourishing firm, when, if we but knew, it was her judgment and good common sense that was controlling control-ling and increasing the trade from whence the revenues rolled in. We must lay aside all prejudice and give her credit for what she really is, and the ability she really possesses. I am not making a plea for woman's rights or suffrage far from it. Her time is too valuable and too precious to spend it in politics; there is too much that needs her counsel and assistance, far higher and nobler that she cannot find time for, than, by spending it around the ballot-box and in an atmosphere of impurity and immorality as we find in so many-of our political circles. She has more claims upon her time than these, by inciting true wisdom and honesty and integrity of purpose within with-in her home, and where her time and attention is sought and demanded, she can do far more good through her home influence than in any so-called political reform circle. The demand for good, faithful and conscientious women in all walks of life is becoming more and more apparent. ap-parent. The avenues open to them are becoming broader and the end nowhere in sight. So there is no excuse for any one to say that woman is helpless and dependent, while she can fit herself j for almost any kind of position or oe- j cupation and acquire the means to obtain ob-tain not only a good livelihood, but an honorable and independent one. If mothers would try to create this spirit of independence amongst their daughters, instead of countenancing all the silly whims and fads of so-called fashionable society, we would find so many happier homes before marriage, as well as after it. Our divorce mills would soon become rusty for want of something to grind and the whole social atmosphere would be regenerated thereby. The influence of the mother and the home has so much to do with human society. The whole happiness of the human family can be traced to this source, and if we. could but picture to ourselves the great necessity for hap- pier homes we would all endeavor to I do our share and begin at the beginning. begin-ning. The home is the beginning and the foundation of all social reform, and there lies the root of all that springs forth, whether for good or evil influence. influ-ence. BESSIE M. LAWLOK, Butte, Mont. j I |