Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1828-01-26
MASONRY AID PErTICoATs.

Hannah, the other night, TO uncle Obadiah,
"masonry and pet,icoa,s, a Eg, and a butterfly,
Died." sho continued, "and for my part, !
could Wish that every woman, who attempts "a
interfere with mems affairs, were compelled "a
wear a seal skin jerkin and leather brccches.''
Uncle obcdiah was busily engaged in read
ing Mr.. Clay's pamphlet-and as the old gcn-
tleman peruscd the pages, he would OCCASION
ally mn,tcr, Oh! the %ruscals. Harry has de-
feated ihcm--he has triumphed -huzza for the
clay o. Kentucky
lie paid no atten.ion.to Aunt Hannah, for
he was TOO deeply absorbed with the book, ill
the old lady placed her, withcrcd lips to his
car, and In a shrill voice, again exclaimed.
" Masonry and retticoa.s."
"In the name of all that's m~ercifIl, Ham
nah," said Uncle Obcd " what do you mean.
has Morgan come to life again. has Solomon
southwick made his case good'- pray Hannah
what DO you meant"
"What do I mean, Obcd:' responded the
old lady. "why I mean, that a woman, who
Cats her hume Chalmers, has undertaken 10
lecture on Masonry, and to expose the secrets
Of the ORDER"
"Poob! pooh. nonsense, nonsense, lfannaIi,"
returned the old gentleman, "don't disturb
inc whilst I I'm reading this pamphlet, and be-
side this, know that it is impossible for any
woman to lecture on Masonry, and I doubt
Hannah, Fany female. has. really Undertaken
the task"
"Obcdiah," said Aunt Hannah, "the Apos-
tic Paul sayeth in holy writ, { he that doubtsi s
damned and to relieve your mind Of every
doubt You may cherish, l will read to you a
paragraph, from the Now-York .T,nquirer,-a
paper you know. that never lics;'' and wiping
her specs, and taking a fresh pinch Of Macca-
boy, she read in a clear, and distinct manner,
the following:
eft is announced in the Frederick Advcr-
tiscr, published in tho Village Of Frederick,
Maryland, hat on Wednesday last, a Mrs.
Chalmers intended 10 deliver a Masonic Ora
ton. composed by herself; and besides all
this, the lady promises to : disclose the whole
secrets Of Masonry"
Uncle Obcd dropped the book when aunt
Hannah had ceased reading, and lighting his
pipe, crossed his legs and laughed immodc-
ra.cly.
"Why Hannah said he, "thc woman
must be q fool or an impostor, and I wonder
if the world will be gulled by her nonscnse'"
Fool, or no fool Obed,' - returned the old
lady, " she's a vile wretch, and if I had my
way, to the House of Correction she should
60, and there she should remain, until she had
undergone u full and a complete purgation; -
for between you and me Obed, what has a
woman to do with masonry what right has
she to interfere with the affairs Of mcn;"
"As to that, Hannah," responded Uncle
Obed, "you and I may not ugrco, but if any
pe;ticoat, tina, has existed since the days Of
Ncbuchadnezzar, can solve the secrets Of Ma
soary, and lecture OH the subject, in the name
Of conscience say I, let her do il. care not
a fs about the matter, for I know that there
IS not a she one, on this side Of the grave that
ever sncw a solitary thing about that ancient
oRd honourablc ordcr.'
"Obcd! obcd! I'll tell thee what cbsd,'
eaii Aunt Hannah, in return, "for my own
part, I am not yet satisfied that it is not pos
sible for our sex to become acquainted with
the secrets Of masonry; for there is Mrs. Curl
osity, the wife Of old parson strieklcr, the Cal
whistle preacher, who TO my certain knowledge
Is as good n mason as ever trod the Lodge Of
81. Johns. Why, wonId you believe it, Obedi-
ah, it vas only a fortnight since, she told me
in strict confidence, all about cau!c lows, NAL
lets, eridrons, grips and grasps, and if slic
hadn't been afraid Of shocking my modcsty,
she would have showed me the exact woy in
which they make a mason. But although she
possess this knowledge, I think none the better
Of her, and between you and me, obcd, I think
the old earmint ought to be strung up for n
sorccrcss, for why should a woman trouble her.
self about the affairs Of men! In my better
days, women were not thus curious; vsc trou-
bIed ourselves about nothing but our domestic
affairs. At the spinning wheel we used to sit
all day-reeI OF our four and twenty knots
milk the cows, and churn tho butter read the
bible at night and darn our stockings, and
cared not a fig for masons or for masonry
but timer are alterod;-vomen are fond ofthe
brce chcs, and if they eanno discuss politics
associate with the tammunys, and lecture on
masonry. why tho very old nick is to pay. and
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