Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1827-07-18
"The age Of gallantry has fed"


"The age Of gallan,ry has fed"
EDmUsD BURKE.
Among the most uncivilized ofthe savage
tribes, and even among the brute creation,
there is a proper Difference shown to the fe-
male sex; and il has always been maxim
among the aboriginals Of America, that he
who lays his hand upon a woman, save it be in
the performance Of the Offices of kindness and
Of love, is destitute of those feelings and senti-
menis Of magnanimity, which can alone ele-
vate man above the common herd Of brutes.
1t were fortunate il this maxim were adher-
ed TO by the members Of civilized life, for then,
VIC should rarely hear of those gross inJigni-
ties and insults, which are but too frequently
offered to woman, by the disciples of modern
christianity and; VIC should not often be COM
PEELED TO blush for the hard-hcartedness Of our
sex.
On Thursday last, an act Of unkindness and
inhumaai was extended to a respc ctable fe-
male ofthis town, which We must be permit
ted to notice, although in doing so, we do vio-
lence TO our own feelings, and expose that,
which for the credit Of this community, we
would gladly conceal. But our sense Of duty
incites us 10 action, and we must go on.
An unfortunate widow lady, aged about
sixty years, had contracted debts to the
amount OF thirty dollars; and the creditors,
weary with opportunities and disappointments,
at last sued her at the law for the amount of
their claims. This had not the desired effect; !;
il did not produce. payment, for the widow had
nothing to pay with, and when the executions
were out, her only alternative, was to effect
the payment Of the debts, or become the ten
ant of jail-that common receptacle Of
crime and misfortune. In this her hour Of tri-
al and mourniul dilemma, she endeavoured to
make a compromise with her creditors, and
offered to surrender TO them the little that had
been left from the wreck Of ruin; but they re-
fused to accept il; and she was committed to
prison.
We state the facts upon the authority Of
the two humane police officers, whose painful
duty it was to commit the unfortunate old lady
to Jail, and they inform us, that a more dis
tressing scene, was never witnessed. When
they went TO perform the duty assigned them,
they found the worthy matron, surrounded by
a group of little grandchildren, who looked up
to her for protection and support; and their
little hearts blod, and they wept, ca. they
who have no hope," when their guardian and
protector was torn from them, to satisfy the
demands Of the creditor In a separate apart
ment, was daughter, and the mother of the
little nnocents confined to her bed, and in
state Of domestic solichude; and who, at the
moment, required the fond and protecting care
Of the aged mother. All Of these ia cts we're
made known to the creditors, and every per-
s,iasion was made to divert them from their
purposes, and 10 induce them to spare the aged
mother from the walls Of the prison house.
But neither eptreatics or tears could prevails
like Shy lock they demanded the pound Of flesh
the fulilment of the bond. No remedy was
left, and the unfortunate and thrice injured
and unhappy matron. was conducted to the
cells of prison, where she now remains, to
weep over the sad story Of her sufferings.
1t is shameful, il is disgracefll TO the State,
that woman should be incarcerated in pris-
on for debt, but the law allows il and the
court awards it," For sake Of humanity, and
galIantry's dear sake, we hope that something
may be- done by our legislature, to secure a
woman from the indignities and sufTcrings in
cident 10 prison. Nothing but crime, posi-
tive and aggravated, should ever make wo-
man an inmate Of Jail; and We hope never
to hear Of similar case.
The situation of the venerable LADY, and her
family is truly lsmentable; and we hope that
il may excite the commiseration and atten-
ton of the generous and humane; and that
they who have enough Of this worlds goods
and to spare, will adopt immediate ways and
means for her release, and for her restoration
to that family and those friends. who are too
poor TO assist her.
Should this article, chance TO reach the eve