April 11, 1917 - Woman should be given the same and equal privileges as man. Ask the question, what do I desire to be? What do I expect to accomplish?

This letter could be placed into our life today and we would see that not much has changed. The thing that is interesting about this letter is the proof that equal rights for woman was front and center. Joe was obviously upset that Helen's youngest sister Lillie was thinking of leaving school. Lillie had just turned 17 and was very bright. She went on to be very successful and driven - without a college education.

April 10, 1917
Helen dear:
Tomorrow is rather a big day in these parts, for the April session of the Supreme Court convenes, and in the evening is the occasion for the Republican convention at Hartford. But today was unique.
I was assigned to try four cases; each short ones, and the first started with the accused pleading guilty and saving the necessity of a trial. The second one that came on, so to speak, at eleven, was disposed of in a few moments, because we got together on the facts, and submitted the matter on an agreed statement of the situation; the third at two was defaulted because the other side didn’t feel the importance of appearing; and the fourth was adjourned at the request of counsel who were indisposed. And so, as Elbert Hubbard used to say "our worst troubles are those that never arrive? This was a case where anticipation was not better than realization.

The result was that a goodly part of the day was available to make arrangements to get away for tomorrow and Wednesday; and as the program is now arranged we’11 be back home Wednesday evening.

I had a good laugh tonight in looking at the Journal’s funny pictures to see one where the man asks at the front entrance of a movie how much it costs to see "New Monia", And spicking of that-as Abe Kabibble would say-Ramona recalls an interesting comment on Siegfried that I heard somewhere. I trust that this is not lost in the ice avalanches with the polar bears.

Did Lillie decide to continue in school? It would be tragic for a girl of her mental calibre to suddenly quit. Remember what Mr. Osborne said about exercising the mind, also the conscience? Well, if you remove the influence of the thoughts of lessons, no matter what, what will be substituted. I was reading Dr,Wise1s address on "Woman and Democracy “and the whole theme seems to be based on the fact that woman should be given the same and equal privileges as man. Then, to paraphrase Hubbard, going the same way, they could go hand in hand. His thesis is based on the assumption that this generation will witness the equal participation of  woman in politics and diplomacy; and so it will. What advantage are the young girls taking of their educational opportunities to fit themselves to assume and participate in the responsibilities that will surely he cast upon them?

I know a little girl here about fourteen years of age: she has but one arm, and is the oldest of five children. The mother died a year or two ago, and yet that little girl is not only taking care of the house, and properly attending to the children, and preparing them for school each day, but herself is very diligent and is at the head of her class. Contrast that with the subject of the lavender letter that Jean Purrell (is that correct?) when he reads it comments - oh, what scribbling and bad spelling, she was stupid; she must have been rich and beautiful,

A very simple way to solve that problem is to ask the question, what do I desire to be? What do I expect to accomplish? Why am I here, anyway, and what part can I play during the few moments that I am privileged to strut upon the stage? If you want to make a smile grow where a tear started ;or to make two laughs where there was only one before; or to try to leave the world just a little better than you found it, you've got to be in a continual state of preparedness.

All of that has been said before by others, either on the stage or in books, but what of it? It's true.

Still, talking will do little good. A man convinced against his will is of the same opinion still. I guess that is what Dr. Wise meant or had in mind when he said

n A proof that woman's life is not completely occupied today is to be found in the circumstance that the so called home-keeping women, too many of them, are ever ready to flee hither and thither from one banality and extravagance to the other, with bridge-whist raging one year and tango teas the other ,and probably bare-footed rope jumping or stilt-walking, or some equally intellectual delight to become the chief obsession of nominally home-keeping women next year. Many young women within the past few years have confessed to a sense of loathing of the emptiness of their lives.”

Do you also remember that Warden Osborne spoke of the many good people simply following the wrong path because no one had pointed out the right, many who did not believe that there was an honest person in the world, many who had been offered no opportunities for improve­ment and so were misled? They were unfortunate indeed. And with just a little help and proper training they have made the finest kind of citizens.

What shall we say or think of a person who has opportunity and education begging him to listen, to lightly brush it aside? If I expect this letter to be read, it would be wise to stop sermonizing.

It can all be summed up in this mintage “we are punished by our sins, not for them." (Elbert Hubbard) Or perhaps better, "there is a tide in the affairs of men, ,which taken at the flood leads on to fortune, etc." (William Shakespeare) Meaning that if you have a hundred aces and a flush in spades, you  should bid at least three fifty, anyhoe,

Sincerely
Joe

The next letter is April 12