Explore "What We Need" by Ella Wheeler Wilcox on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
What does our country need? No armies standing / With sabres gleaming ready for the fight; / Not increased navies, skilful and commanding, / To bound the waters with an iron might; / Not haughty men with glutted purses trying / To purchase souls, and keep the power of place; / Not jewelled dolls with one another vying / For palms of beauty, elegance, and grace.
But we want women, strong of soul, yet lowly, / With that rare meekness, born of gentleness; / Women whose lives are pure and clean and holy, / The women whom all little children bless; / Brave, earnest women, helpful to each other, / With finest scorn for all things low and mean; / Women who hold the names of wife and mother / Far nobler than the title of a queen.