Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1851-11-06
INDIANA STATE SENTINEL
rFrOm the New York Day BOOk.l
WOman's Rights, or how a Wife lost net
Husband.

that equity demands they should have IS exemphned ID
the following romantic incident, which happened q snort
time since:
A young married man, clerk in a large dry goods
store, who for several years past has spent his winters
in the South, visiting the customers of the hrm and ma
king new acquaintance, returned last spring TO this
city, the unconscious victim OF en- artlul and wicked ie-
male seducer. 1t seems that while on his last southern
tour he was introduced into the family oil a merchant
who had living with him an orphan niece OF rare beauty
and accomplishments. The niece was the only daugh-
ter Of a rich planter who died some years since, leaving
his large fortune to his only daughter, into whose pos,
session II was to come upon her arriving al TIE age Vi
IS. The Young man, who, for want OF a better name,
we shall call Brown, made himself quite at home m the
family Of the young lady's uncle, and 1t was NOT iong'
according TO the story of his friends, before she conceiY-
ed for him the most passionate love-. In other words:
she fell in love with him without knowing that ne was a
married man. Whether he studiously concealed the
fact, or whether he did not happen To mention the TACT
in her presence. remains vet a secret; at any rate, Mr..
Brown returned TO his business in this city and hs home
last spring unconscious Of having kindled IA the bosom
of the fair daughter Of the South q passion ior hln That
time and distance could not allay.
Early ia the summer, the uncle, his wife, two daugh-
tiers and niece arrived in. New York, and took lodging al
the Irving. or course Mr.. Brown was appriSed ol
their arrival. and as in duty bound gave them an early
call. His own wife and little ono at this time had lett
the city on a visit to the country, and he, therefore, as
the Irish saw. +" had no call !" for mentioning her name.
He was alone. business was dull, he had plenty OF lei
sure time on his hands, felt very much like a bachelor,
and without knowing it acted like a bachelor. de rode,
walked, went to concerts and theaters with the young
ladies', and before he was really aware oil his own inais-
cFetiOns, he and he rich Miss Emily became inc SUBJECT
of very general remark. That he was innocent OF any
knowledge of the young ladys particular regard Is evil
dent from his subsequent conduct.
After spending some weeks in this city, the southern
ers left for Saratoga, intending, like all from the land OIL
chivalry and cotton, to spend their surplus Pronts and
leisure in travelling about the country. Lake George,
Quebec and the Falls were marked down as places 10 be
visited as soon as the season at the Springs began TO
draw to a close. Days and weeks passed IN gayeiy and
folly, and when the time came Tor taking leave 81 SaFa-
t~n1 vrhaF v-au fha Errprisn of the wEOt3 family to sec
Mr. Brown make his appearance al the United states.
with Mrs. Brown AMI a little Brown, the fac s1Rtie OF
Brown himself. If Miss Enily's father had risen Up
through the floor, he could not have created more sur
prise. nor filled his daughter and her cousins villa more
establishment. At first It seemed like a piece oil base
they treated him with marked Indifference bat, after IA
while, they BEGAN to reflect upon the matter, anu came
to the very sage conclusion that Mr.; brown wasn't
much any how, and as he was merely a business oc-
quaintance Of Mr.. Ferguson, 1t mtttered htue 10 them
whether he had one wife OF a dozen.
This we say was the conclusion OF the FurGusons, but
not of Miss Emily. M doubt she would very gladly
have come 10 the same conclusion Il she could; but hfe
feelings were too much enlisted, her heart vas too much
bound up in love with a man, " the Ike oil whom she
ne'er would look upon again." she thOugnt me matter
al over. tried IN reason uDOD ito convince herself that
it was all for the best-bat it vas Of no use, that Ms.
Brown and that little Brown stood always up before Eer,
two CHASTITY spectres to frighten her soul out oil her'
She thought she never saw two more hIdeOus creatures,
and wondered why they did not die OF absolute ugil-
ness. In a few days after the Browns arrival, the
southerners left for the North; the Browns soon after
returned to the city, business commenced, and nothing
more Of Saratoga nor the ladies was thought OF until
the last of August, when the name oil FuTguson and
family and Miss E.. Furguson, appeared among the ar
rivals at the Irving. OF course Brown was on hand
again and as attentive as ever; but tais time Mrs
Brown accompanied him in his calls, and as IN duty
bound invited the ladies to her house.
II was evident that the journey had not been beneficial
to Miss Emily's health, but as she was a girl OF strong
constitution and resolute will, the disappointment Ia
learning of the existence Of a Mrs. Brown did not effect
her as much as one would have supposed. 1t was, as
has been subsequently disclosed, at this Time, on her re-
turn to New York, that she determined at all hazards to
have Mr.. Brown. She began to reason with herself al
ter this wise: " Now, then" said she, II IS evident
that he is the man for ne. The Almighty made mel
and women to go in pairs, and this Brown and vile are
no more a pair, and no more suited TO each other, than
Barnum and Jenny Lind and although they may live
together now they are TarTied Tor the sake oil a worldly
Reputation; they are not husband and vile in the sense
the Almighty intended. In short, they were not made
Tor each other, and they have no business TO live togeth'
er. She does not love him, nor he her, and they live To-
gether simply because they can't help IT. Brown was
made Tor me, l feel 1t, l know It; L love him as never
woman loved before, and be loves mel know 1t as vel
as if had said so, and he can't help it. Why. then
shall we not live with each other and be happy! Socie'
ty torbids il, but why should we care iOf society! Il
does nothing for US but curse and condemn US, when We
preferring the dictates of our own hearts and desires
dlSObey It's silly and arbitrary mandates. brown d
mine ard | am his As for wealth, / have enough Tor as
both, and to make him, as | am myself, independent o
the world or its opinion"
IN THIS way bliss Emily reasoned, dccU[ulh4 10 one o
her own letters, until she persuaded herself that " i
was her religious duty TO take Mr. Brown away from hi:
disagreeable and hideous wife" Coming to such con-
clusioas, she could not, of course, remain long without
telling him her feelings. This she did, as she assures
her friends, in the most frank aad candid manner. For
a while poor Brown was bewildered; he had always !ov.
ed his wife and child, and never mp to this time dream
cd OF deserving them-but Miss Emily was so beautiful.
SO charming, SO intelligent. 50 interesting, and loved bin
50 passionately and sincerely-she reasoned 50 strongly
and so well upon the immortality oil living IL odds and
not IN palrS-0f d~lsObeylRg Gods laws and intention:
for the sake of keeping mans law and adhcring 10 the
arbitrary rules OF society in preference TO the DIVING vii
that he really thought there was a " higher law " thar
that OF the Stats which should govern his decisions il
this matter. He became a higher law man, and con
sented to leave his wife and child, and follow not only
the charming Emily but the dictates of the divine wh
OF his Creator. He was fUlly puTsuaded that God wouls
never have given him such strong passions and desire!
for his dear Emily IL be did not mean their dictatel
shonld be obeyed, nor would he, how could he hav,
brought them together and so mysteriously have reveal
ed the passions OF each Tor the other unless he desigae,
them TO live together.
1t was therefore plain to him that there was a Lighe
law than the Constitution, and that law he resolved K
obey. Everything was made ready-tbeir passage tax
en- on board the steamer-and before Mrs. Brown wa
aware that her husbands affections were given to anoth
er,h e wasaway with dear Emily on the " wide, unboun
ded deep"
Now then, it is plain that Mr.. Brown was fairly Sc
duced. He is the victim OF an unprincipled, strong
minded, passionate woman, who will probably not 20 ~
In, then iorsake him )" but who has wronged his lawGu
and devoted wife far more than ever man was wToDge
by the seduction Of his wiie-and what redress has she
Can she. like a man. sue the seducer ahd recover dam
agesf No; women have no such rights. She is robbie
Of her support and protector, but has no redress; f.
her there Is no remedy.
DDean Swiftis remark at the close Of a charity ser
mon, from the text " He that givefh to the poor lcndci
to the Lord, is well known-(' If you ike the sccur
~. down with your dnStt") Bur the two following "a