Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-09-30
MRS. NORTON.

Inc following tOuchlnG conclusion to
the letter recently published by Mrs.
Norton in the London journals, says the
n. Y. Courier, contains lesson which is
opportune. Let those women who NAV
feel nascent desire to hear their names
in the public mouth, read and ponder on
the confession of one of their number
who has achieved literary reputation
not often attained, that those women who
leave the true woman's lot of being un-
known out Of the circle of their friends.
ought TO thank God for that blessing
And should it be sa;d-for it seems that
it is impossible to overrate the extent of
peryersion which the would-be disorgsni-
scrs of society will practice-if it should
be urged that this very case of Mrs. Nor
tons cries trumpet-tongucd, for the pro-
lection of woman, it must he remembered
that no man not reckless of his claims to
manhood, will oppose the most perfect
and ample protection Of all woman's
rights, OR ever has done so and that pro-
lection Of her position in the world, or
such change in her attitude towards
man as to deprive her of that greatest
claim she has to his tenderness and care
her entire dependence or him.
Il have done There will always be
those to whom slander is precious; and
who cannot bear to have it rcfuted. -
There are also those in whose eyes the
accusation of a woman is her condemna-
ton, and who care little whether the
story be false Or true, so long as there is
or was story against her. But juster
minds, who will pause and review the
published, will perhaps think the fate of
that woman hard one, whom neither
the verdict of a jury, nor the solemn de-
NAL of voice from the dead, nor the pc
tition OF her husband for reconciliation
and oblivion Of the past, can clear from a
charge always and utterly untrue | do
not deserve the scandal of 1886, and do
not deserve the scandal of 1858 Lord
Melbourn did not tempt me then to break
my welded faith; and his name has not
now been the ground of broken stipu-
latiOn.
''On Mr.. Norton s own letter am con-
tent that people should judge of us both.
Many friends have wished me to pass
over that letter in diSdainful silence, as
refuting itself; and perhaps, if [ were
happy enough to be obscurcand unknown,
that would be my course. Bat I have "a
position separate from woman's destiny;
| am known as a writer; and | will not
permit that Mr.. Norton's letter shall re-
main on the journals of Great Britain, as
the uncontradicted record Of my actions.
| will, as far as am able, defend name
which might have been only favorably
known, but which my husband has rem
dered notorious. The little world of my
chance readers may say of me after am
dead and gone, and my struggle over and
forgottcn-s' The woman who wrote this
book had an unhappy history" bat they
shall not say" The woman who wrote
this book was proAigate and mcrcenary
hypocrite. Since my one elf, of writing
gives me friends among strangers, [ ap,
peal to the opinions of strangers as well
as that of friends. Since, in however
bounden and narrow degree, there is a
| chance that [ may he remembered after
death, will not have my whole life mis- :
represented. Let those women who have
the true woman lot, of being unknown
out OF the circle of their homes, thank
Gcd for that blessing; it is blessing; but
for me, publicity is no longer matter Of
choice. Defence is possible to me: not
silence. And [ must remind those who
| think the right Of husband SC indefea-
sible, that wife ought rather to submit
to the martyrdom of her reputation, than
be justified at his expense, that | have
reiralned. All state now, | might have
stated at any time during the past un-
happy years; and l never did publicly
state 1t till now; now, when | find Mr..
Norton slandering the mother OF his sons,
by coarse anecdotes signed with his name
and published by his authority; endeav-