The Women of the West 65 



when the Leland Stanford Junior University was in 

 sore financial straits, she denied herself no sacrifice, 

 living in poverty and seclusion until the dun days 

 were past. More, at an age when most women count 

 themselves entitled to rest in peace, she mastered 

 those difficult arts by which alone great trusts are 

 properly administered. She became a woman of 

 business, the slave of innumerable interests, shifting 

 responsibilities to none, the patient indefatigable 

 worker and executrix. The same may be said of 

 Mrs. Hearst. 



To women such as these, the Pacific Slope owes 

 an incalculable debt. The money, vast sum that it 

 is, which they give is the least part of that debt. 

 The sleepless nights, the anxious days, the physical 

 exhaustion — can these be computed ? 



The girls of the West marry for love. Very often 

 the daughter of a rich man, accustomed to every 

 luxury, marries a poor clerk, or a struggling lawyer 

 or doctor ; and while the struggles last she almost 

 invariably proves a loyal and tender helpmeet. 

 Adversity would seem to link such lovers with 

 golden fetters ; prosperity tears them apart. It 

 is curious to note that the rich father rarely makes 

 his daughter an allowance, no matter how sharply 

 poverty pinches her. There may be virtue in this 

 Spartan discipline (I believe there is more than 

 we suspect), but to English eyes it appears un- 

 necessarily rigorous. There is a true story of a 

 millionaire who gave his daughter a very large 

 fortune when she came of age. Later, she married 

 against his wishes a poor man, and the father said 



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