Page:The part taken by women in American history.djvu/52

Rh The majority of women have exemplified this aphorism by the faithful performance of their duties as wives, mothers and members of society. In three or four decades they have succeeded in demonstrating their abilities in fields other than domestic drudgery to which they were assigned in the earlier days of the Republic through the misconception of Bible truths, fanaticism and the prejudices of the unenlightened. The barriers erected by the Puritans have been broken down and women during the last half century in almost equal numbers with men have contested successfully for the honors in science, literature, music, art, political economy, education, the professions of law, medicine and theology, and also in many of the vocations of life which are based on industrial principles—to say nothing of her achievements in the higher realms of Christianity, humanity, philanthropy and in the solution of the problems of social purity, domestic science, municipal administration, cultivation and betterment of the conditions of mankind.

The majority of women as "mothers of the race" have the advantage in that they have the power to transmit to their offspring principles which inspire high ambitions, noble instincts, pure thoughts and inclination for right living. They have in their keeping the infant minds which they can mould and train for noble or ignoble lives. Unfortunately, the influence of mothers does not invariably abide in their children, but in most cases it is felt from the cradle to the grave by the children they have borne and reared properly.

The object of this book is to furnish examples worthy of emulation by future generations. It is the desire of the author to record the heroism, triumphs over adversity, and obstacles raised by ignorance and prejudice, and to emphasize the intellectual attainments, faithfulness, patience, tenderness, mercy, love and holy ministrations of the women of the American