Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1828-01-05
WOMAN'S FAME.


wOMAN'S FAME.
The other night the wind, lud! how it did
blow-and the rain poured down in torrents
we were seated by the 6ro side, reading the
last papers that the mail brought us, and lis
tening to, but not needing the roarings Of the
tempest. when the following paragraph struck
our eye, and after reading it. we Involuntary
exclaimed, fright! right! by Jupiter, the fellow
was served exactly right"
We find the extract in the Western Star,
published in one of the interior towns Of Chic,
and thus it stands.
"Among the causes tried at the presont sit
ting Of our Circuit Court, and which excited
the most interest was the SUIT of Beisey Bruce,
by her father and next friend, William Bruce,
against james nj. Alexander. This action was
an action of SANDER brought ag inst Alexander
by Major Bruce, for words spoken by Alexan-
der, charging his daughter with a wan, Of chas-
tity. The words laid were clearly proven, and
there was no attempt at justification, except,
that the words were spoken, and another per-
son given as the author at the time they were
spoken. The charge was proven TO be wholly
false and the character of the lady u%nblemish-
ed in the slightest degree.
After hearing the evidence and the argu-
ment Of counsel, Messrs. Law and judah for
plaintiff and Johnson for defendant, the Jury
retired, and in a short time brought in a ver-
dict Of 5 1000 for the plaintiff, being the whole
amount Of damages laid in the declaration.
Immediately after the judgement was rem
dered, Major Bruce entered satisfa ton for
5000 reserving merely a sufficient sum to pay
the expenses and costs"
AUNT HANNAH, who sat at the opposite
side Of the fire place, busiIy employed in darn
ing one of little Henry's stockings, which was
closely drawn over the end Of a large Spanish
potatoc suddenly dropped her neck, and throw
ing her specta cles over her mob cap, sighed
aloud, and in a manner indicative Of warmth,
said to us, ''dear child why do you thus strong
ly express yourself, and offend my ears with a
species Of semi-profanity' Why not speak
moderately child, why these violent exclama-
tions!''
sin the name Of all that's just and charita-
ble," we replied, "dear aunt Hannah, how
would you have one express himself, when he
reads of the villiany of man and the cowardice
Of a scoundrel. Hero, dear aunt, take the pa
per. read it yourself, and then say, IL oss IN
clamations have been too strong"
The old lady seized the paper.with avid'ty'
and having perused the sentence, it fell from
her hands, whilst the venerable matron, ejac-
ulated an expression Of Indignation. go the
rascal, the rascal" she continued, had he liv-
ed in those blessed days, when | was a girl.
and Deacon O'Flaherty was a boy, the rascal
would not have got off so easily;-for the Dea-
con, God rest his pious soul, was a warm one'
and never suffered our sex to be imposed
upon with mpunity."
"We know not what Deacon O'Flahcrty
would have DONE" we replied, but this we
know, aunt Hannah, that he who assails a
woman's fame is a villain upon whom no Fun
ishment too severe can be inflicted.
That pristine fire, which for nearly eighty
winters had been sinking into nothingness, of
was at once rekindIed, by our remarks,
and the old lady, burst forth in a strain Of
vehement eloquence, which had never be-
fore escaped from her antiquated lips. my
cki!d,'' said she, the sentiments, you have ut
tered, excite my especial admiration, and |
agree with you, that he who attempts TO sully
woman's fame, is the vilest, and the most cow
ardly OF mortals. Woman, was formed for the
happiness and solace Of mailman was form
ed TO protect her, and how despicable and
vile, must he not be, who has the temerity 20
rob her of all that is dear 10 her--her reputa-
ton, a pearl Of inestimable value. Without its
possession, her life becomes valueless-she
drags out a miserable existence ;--becomes the
drudge of society THE laughing stock and de-
rision Of the town,--and all these events are
too often produced by the tongue Of a SANDER
Gus mainly the scandal ofthat sex. to which
we are told to look up to, for protection and
succour."
The old lady would have gone on TO a great
err length, had not little Henry began 10 utter
a sigh Of discomfort, ard dislike Of her %clatter,
when aunt Hannah dropped the subject. and
began TO sing
Rock a-hye-haby, on The tree top,
When The bough bends, the cradle shall rock.n
TIL. O. q ~