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Who Will Read It?
Woman’s Work in the Civil War, by L. Brockett, M.D
. A Record of Heroism, Patriotism and Patience; Published 1867 in Philadelphia; Illustrated
with 16 Steel Engravings
I’m drawn to this work in the belief that all women are endowed by the Creator with such heroism, patriotism and patience, and combined with Heaven’s gift of womanhood and femininity, are therefore destined for sainthood. Circumstances, pride, and greed, however, derail those who were not trained in self- discipline and self-denial.
A couple years ago I started to write a similar book about modern women, titled “Women Above the Fray.” My mother was such a woman and I know many others. I requested other writers and friends to tell me stories of these heroes. I did get some response, and have several accounts written. I occasionally think about bringing it out and getting back to work on it. That’s the writer’s right side of the brain. The left side, more practical, asks, “Who will read it?” It’s still in the file.
In our modern time when all that is beautiful about the natural woman is stripped away, gender becomes optional, modesty and chastity are scoffed at, who would want to read about women who managed to stay above all that drama? In an age when the holiness, the sanctity, of a woman’s body is called discretionary and is argued by politicians on social media, who would read about women who rose above all that before they were even allowed to vote or whose bodies and their childrens’ were owned by someone else, and yet stood before God as a divine woman?
Would it be readers who glorify Planned Parenthood or the woman who decided her four-year-old daughter should be a boy and became a media heroine? Where are readers who would pick up a book about women whose beauty is not skin deep, but whose glow comes from charitable and forgiving hearts? Whose love for their family includes respect for marriage, self-denial, and a gentle but firm hand with children, modeled by the Holy Family? Women have been endowed with courage and femininity to care for aging parents, struggling marriages, imperfect children. and unpleasant working and living environments. Their stories need to be told.
What these women endured in the Civil War – in every war – what they accomplished, the heroism, determination, even physical strength, is beyond comprehension for some of today’s women who care more for their rights than doing what is right.
The files I have on contemporary women, are no less stunning than their ancestors’ stories. Their stories need to be told and read by girls and women who think they are maligned and underserved. But, I fear those who should read and emulate are picketing somewhere for rights they already have, or reading biographies of politicians who claim to be femininist while denying true femininity exists.
I’d like to finish my book to honor my mother and the Virgin Mary, and all women everywhere whose femininity and courage have brought about wonders of the world. But, who would read it? The book I’m currently reading is 794 pages of women’s stories, in very tiny typesetting. It is 152 years old. In this book we can read what femininity really is and what it means for all women in all times. But, who will read it?