Northern Oklahoma College - Roundup Yearbook (Tonkawa, OK)

Page 134 text:

1 9 1 6 V 425-1 ,1 Today and Tomorrow A warm, drowsy September day was drawing to a. close. I sat, or rather, lazily reclined, in a large comfortable chair on the shady porch, vainly searshing my tired brain for some new subject for a story. Yes, I wanted something new-something with real life pictured in it. I lnonged for an inspiration from the poets' world As I sat musing and thinking, a soft, warm breeze blew across my face, bring- ing with it that dreamy, soothing fragrance from myriads of clover blooms, and the drowsy, contented hum of busy insects from the meadow below. That gentle breeze proved itself my master, and ere I was aware of its presence, sleep had overcome me, and had borne me away into the mystic valley of dreams, far away from the stern realities of life. I had stepped into another world it seemed, and stood in silent awe and wonder as I gazed at the scenes before me. ' Words can but poorly express the wondrous beauties which greeted me on every' sideg and the atmosphere was pervaded with a peaceful stillness-such a contrast to the busy whirl and mad rush of the world of mortals. I had a sudden inspiration! Now I could find a subject-a beautiful subject for my story. It should be one that would tell of fairies, Bowers, beautiful green valleys and winding paths, sing- ing birds, and all the other wonders of nature whch were scattered around me so abundantly. As I was gazing around, trying to make up my mind where to begin, I heard a soft rustling sound near by, and glanced around just in time to see a quaint, fleecy little body jump lightly from among the the bright blossoms of a bed of golden rods. Althugh I had never seen fairies, I judged that this was one, for such dainty, pure, sprightly creatures are found only among the wee folk of Fairyland. She advanced to meet meg gazed into my face for a moment, and then, with a graceful bow, intro- duced herself as Pearl, the Dreamland Gu de. . And you, I suppos, she added in a.soft, silvery voice, are from the land of mortals. E I Yi-BS, I P1f1SW9I'ed, and I am here tfying to find something new and inspiring about which to write a story. There seems to be so many new and beautiful things, I hardly know just where to begin. Maybe you can help me, if you will be so kind, I shall be delighted to help you if I can, she answered smiling. You want something new and inspiring. Let me see.. Do you see anythng here that you do not have on the earth below? No, I answered, glancing around in vain trying to find something different from anything I had ever seen before. I .suppose we have the same things but somehow they all appea ' so much more beautiful and perfect here than we have been used to seeing themf Yes, that is true, she answered, but come, let us walk around and maybe an inspiration will come to us. Hand .in hand we wandered about under the rustling, waxen, leaves of mighty treesg o'er the soft, velvety carpet of moss starred with daisies and buttercupsg along winding paths close by the banks of clear, rippling streams, until, at last, we 134

Page 133 text:

l ff the law continued upon the statute book for twenty years. I 1889 when it was admitted to the Union the constitution contained this idea. Pennsylvania wants equal Sufffagey because, She SaYS, it will correct the notorious evils of the common- Wealth. A. Caswell Ellis says: Sooner or later it must b,e recognized that the duties of a true mother to her child and her home are not confined to the kitchen and the back-yard, nor can she evade the responsibility as a citizen by turning it over to her any more than the husband can successfull f t ' tl f als to his wife. 5 uin over ie amily religion and mor- Jane Adams says, If women would fulfill liel' traditional responsibility to her own childreng if she would educate and protect from danger factory children who must find their recreation on the streetg if she would bring the cultural forces to bear on our materialistic civilization, and if she would do it all with the dignity and directness fitting one who carries her own immemorial duties, then she must bring herself to the use of the ballot -that latest implement of self-virtue. May we not fairly Say the Amercian people need this implement in order to preserve the home? Some people have said that women are disqualified physically to do the actual work of the government, YVe do not expect it. What we do want is some one with sufifiicient knowledge and common sense to elect honest men to oiiice to attend to these things. VVomen do not need to cease to be domesic because they take an interest in public affairs. There is no state that requires one to bear arms to serve as jurors as a qualification of Suffrage. Men cannot represent women, because women are unlike men. VVomen as a class have tasks, interests and occupations which they alone can edequately repre- sent. What! Would you have the women unvoiced in the governmental affairs? Have nothing to say of hers and her own child's protection? One fifth of the earth's territory is established under Woman's Suffrage. The women vote as independ- ently and as intelligently as the men. They do not neglect home for politics. There has been no harm come to men, women,children, or to the State, but on the con- trary much good has been accomplished when women have been given equal suff- rage. ' There are five reasons why we should have Woman's Suffrage: 1. Because we are for democratic government. 2. Because woman's moral influence is needed in public life. 3. Because modern industrial and commercial life has taken woman out of the protection of the horiie and she needs the protection of the ballot. 4. Because we need woman's house-keeping instinct in municipal affairs and in matters pertaining to Cllildfen- 5. Because of justice. 133

Page 135 text:

Warsl. .asf .gnu J ,. 1 :V IQ came to o large open space, on which the sun shone, with a dazzling, but mild brightness. As soon as the momentary blindness, which was caused by the sudden exposure to the glaring light, had passed away I could see distinctly before me o large wall, beautiful beyond comparison with its delicate colors, and intricate carvings, .its mass- ive arches and lofty towers. I gazed 1.1pOnit.iI'1 open-eyed wonder and amazement, for I had never dreamed of anything so wonderful, even in Fairyland, where all things are possible. My little guide watched me in silence for a moment, and then her tiny, rosebud face suddenly dimpled, and laughing gayly, she again spoke. You mortals are such queer people-you seem to be so much surprised and awed by things that we consider very commonplace. You'll pardon me, I hope, for laughing at you so impolitely, but the expression on your face did look so funny. Have you never seen walls before? Yes, I answered, still dazzled, but none so exquisitely beautiful as that! What .is it? .. That-, she answered, her dimpled face becoming serious, that is the City of Tomorrow, as we fairy-folk call it. We have planned and built it with our own hands, as a model for you mortals to follow. ' You now are looking only upon the outside. The inside .is made more beautiful by the people who dwell there. You know we have some knowledge of the life .in the lower world, and the sin and sorrow there is more than we can understand, so we have planned the Future for Man, and it can be made to come to pass if only all take a willing part and do all they can to replace sin and sorrow with the joy and happ.iness found within these walls. ' .- Oh, may I have just one look inside, I questioned eagerly. My story was for- gotten, and the wonderful revelation of the mystic, hazy future filled' my mind, and permeated my whole being. Yes, she answered, I will take yOu inside, so that you may see for yourself a place blessed by divine presence. ' We advanced to the great white gate hung on golden hinges, my guide rapped thi-ee times thereon with her pearl wand, the gate swung noiselessly back, and we entered the City of Tomorrow. I did not feel at all as I thought I should, as a strangeifin a strange world, but at onoo oonfoi-med myself to my surroundings, and a feeling of peace and content- ment Stole Over me. My eager eyes tried to take in everything at once, but oh! the Sights vveye go many, go wonderfully beautiful and different, that I felt as if I could not enjoy any one very long for fear of missing others. i 1 had Completely forgotten my little guide, but was brought to a conciousness of her presence again, when she gently touched my hand, as if to waken me from a trance. She was greatly delighted with my praise and admiration of that which her people hd W1-ought, and tirelessly led me from one scene, to another more wonderful and glorious. i We passed through broad, clean streets upon which all was order and the very imperson-,tion of Law itself, no skulking thieves lurked behind house corners ready , . h their avaricious thirst, no cursing or scandal polluted the pure atmosphere, no saloon stood on the street corner to entice the youth down- to .spring upon YOU 130 queue 135