"-^^o^ « '■; ? •• a y <*^ i-^ *•* °- -.^ %'^-'/ **/'^\/ '\'W!'^\o'' \% 'Cp^' • ■ 'bv" V <» 1 *J»' O^ • Or • ♦ -^ V • !. *?» O %/ ''^ ^^^ ""^ <^ ^^ ••' -^^ <^ *o^\* • * " * "^ /"O « • o 'o ♦ .V ^J- >e in lassitude, oi- to for- s^et that we may stamp an indelibU* character for grood or evil upon th(^ innnortal minds su})mitted to our regency, 2:0 and re- nounce our errors, deepen our faitli, quicken our eneigies and do the will of our Master. That woman who deli]>erately and wilfully refuses to weai* this olorions and holy crowai of motlierhood ; who would rather idle awav iier time and strenoth in followino; the devious and senseless ways of fashion, in paradinWIN(J FOR oriJKHS TO HHAI' cause; in spite of ignorance within and (iuplicity and ahusc Avitliout, we nuist siill strug<>:le upward toward the light. Tlie phase of the (piestions wliich demand our attention at this time is the responsihlity resting upon the women of the race in the solution of the prol)lem. Ever since Mother Eve ate of the appk' in tlie (iarden of Eden, and liy so doing changed the plans of the Creator, woman has been a pioniinent f Jictor in shaping the destinies of tlie nations of the \\ oi'ld. Think of the Hebrew women of olden times ; of Deborali, who judged Israel ; of Huldah, who pio- phesied ; of faithful Ruth, w liom neithei- poverty nor hardships could discourage : of brave Estlier who saved her people at the risk of her own life. Later in the history of the nations comes the beautiful Helen of Troy, who was thi' cause of a long and bloody war between the Trojans and tlie Greeks. Think of Cleopatra, who by her fascinating manners kept Anthony at her side and made him forget his duty to his own nation. Think of that brave little maid, -loan of Arc, who led the army of France to victory ; of cruel and blood-thirsty, Catharine de Medici, at whose instigation thousands of innocent men, women and childien were murdered in one night ; of Queen Elizal)eth and her noted reign : of the sad and romantic histories of Mary (,^uecn of Scots, Marie Antohiette and the Empress .losephine ; of (.^ueen \ ictoria, Avith her long record of just and wise ruling ; and the Dowager Empress of China, who, because of her bitter opposition to progress is believed to have incited many of the teri-ible and bloody scenes which mark the close of the nineteenth century. These women, whose lives stand out so prominently, are simply examples sliowing the intluence for good or bad, weal or woe, that women have upon the destinies of nations. No race can rise higher than its women. So, we repeat, the solution of this problem of the twentieth century rests largely upon the women of the race. Inunediately, the question arises, ''will the Negro women arise to their responsibility V" In view of what has already been SOWING FOR OTllKKS TO KKAP 29 iaecoinplisluHl ]>v the women of our jace thi-ou";h years of oppression and discouragements, we feel tliat we can answer without fear ''yes we are sure that they will arise nobly to the responsihility resting upon them, and that they will wrestle bravely with the problem confronting them." Feeiinii' that our eves are so blinded by tears because of reading the words of discouragement in tlie Tress, our ears deafened by the clamor or the nndtitudes which cry "Away with them," and our senses dulled by daily contact with the subtle contempt shown us everywhere we turn, that we have forgotten the work already accomplished by the noble women of the race, let us take a hasty review of the history of the race since f]'eedom. And how think you that freedom was obtained? We firmly believe that it came in answer to the prayers of thousands of poor creatures who were whoU}^ at the mercy of cruel masters. For more than two hundred years whispered prayers for freedom went up to the Almighty God ; whispered because well did those, who were praying, know that if uttered aloud the cruel lash would descend upon their quivering flesh. But still they prayed, nor did they pray in ^'ain, for after a terrible civil war they were made free. Poor, helpless, naked, homeless, dazed ])y sudden free- dom, four million human beings were thrown out to sink or swim, live or die, as the case might be. How we wish that the story of those poor unknown women could be written ; those that toiled early and late in the fields, in the home, that they might some day own a little plot of ground and a cottage ; that their children might go to school and thus become helpful men and and women. If we could obtain statistics we are sure that we should find that the majority of the men and women of the race who have a thorough education, a good trade, or a paying business, owe these attainments to the influence of a good mother. Dr. Booker T. Washington gives all honor to his mother, who, 30 SOWING FOR orilKKS TO RKAP altliough she could neither read nor write encouraged liini in liis eiforts to obtain an education . Throuoh the years of discouraoe- nients and hardships, assailed by those who had no ideals and who would not have striven to carry them out if tliey had, what would the man have done had it not been for the carefid management and tact of his wife, Margaret Murray Washington ? During the years of freedom many women have entered the realm of business and have proven themselves capable and efticient ])usiness women. JNIrs. Eva Lewis formerly of Spring- field, Illinois, and the late Mrs. Mary Williams, of Columbus, Ohio, are examples of successful business women. Hundreds of women follow the profession of teaching, and both by precept and example, demonstrate the possibility of living pure and nol)le lives ; of obtaining cultured minds and healthy bodies. Some go to cities, towns and even to remote hamlets in the capacity of lecturers. From old Sojourner Truth, who went about fearlessly proclaiming the gospel of freedom, to such women as Mrs. LncyThurman, Mrs. Mary Church Terrell, Mrs. Rosetta Lawson, and INIrs. Rosa Johnson of our own day. many have sacrificed the comforts of home, to go and teach the truths of morality, temperance, frugalit}^, to those who need such instruction. These names we need not blush to speak of at an}^ time or in any place as all these women have lived lives that were pure, noble and helpful. Any race might be proud to number such women among them. Although the race is still having a hand-to-hand fight with povert}^ some brave women have developed their talents in the fine arts, such as music, painting, embroidery and sculpture. Many have entered the professions, and as doctors, lawyers, dentists and trained nurses, are winning success and fame. Dressmakers, milliners, clerks, stenographers, all these can we can show with pride. We are longing for the time when some of our women shall become as famous cooks as Mrs. Rorer ; when some of them SOWINC; FOR OTHERS TO REAP 31 sIimII he able to demand and receive wages as high as the chefs of the very wealthy families in cities like New York and ] Philadelphia. This can be done, even though the time may seem far distant. But after all it is as' a home-maker that the greatest good will be accomplished. More homes, purer homes, aie the crying needs of the hour; and these will only be obtained by having pure, noble women to be queens of them. Solomon tells us in the book of Proverbs what kind of women we need. He says, that ''the price of a virtuous w^oman is far above rubies. The heart of her husband doth safely trust in hei- ; she openeth her mouth with wisdom, and in her tongue is the law of kindness, her children rise up and call her bless- ed." What a beautiful picture of womanhood this is. In tlie l)eginning we said that this great responsibility lests u])on the women of the Negro race, but we must limit that statement. It rests upon the pure, the moral, the intelli- gent christian women of the race. We know only too well that there is a class of women at w^hom men point the finger of scorn and sa}^, ''aha I aha." Shall we dare trust them to solve this great problem? A\"e think not. There is the loud talking, loud laughing, loud dressing class, who are ever present in the cars, in the street, in all public places, drawing attention to themselves by their manner. Then, there is the poor, weak, insipid class, who seem too listless to even be good or do good. There is another class of women who seek to ape the Van- derbilts and the Goulds : who wear the finest clothes, eat the richest food, and furnish their homes elegantly, yet wdio lack monev to afford this style of living. Mark you I We do not mean to say that we should not strive to have the comforts of life. Far from it. We wish the race to be ambitious, to have beautiful homes comfortable clothes and substantial food, but we also wish to caution them about living beyond their means. These four classes of w^omen, the untrue, the loud, the weak, the extravagant, are hindering, instead of helping to ;32 80AVING FOK orilKKS JO KKAl' soivt' tlic riieo probloju. Hut we aiv bappy to say that there is a fiftli class ; those whose lives are pure, and useful; who seize every o])]K)rtunity for lioorl. who feel tlie