The Trinity times., 1855-02-10
California Widows.
he Editor of the NJ Y r. ibune

To the Editor of the N. Y. I. ibune:
SIR: 1t is to you, who advocate the rights
of the people, and denounce the wrongs done
them, that appeal in behalf ST class in
the community, commonly called California
Widows
The Bible speaks of those who are widows
indeed, and recommends them to the chari y
of the brethren; but these poor neglected
souls have no p ace in ther sympathy or com
passion. Their position in society is looked
upon as being extremely amusing, and they
are treated accordingly. No one seems TO
think they have any cause for sorrow, or
stand in any need of consolation.
No widow, indeed, spoken Of in Holy Writ
was ever required to be more circumspect
If one is sad or despondng, it is said directly
MIR. - turned out very differently from
her expectations; he is poor stick, after all
On the other hand, if one is gay or cheerful,
it is mysteriousy whispered, lie undoubtedly
had good reasons for going to California;
She doesn't seem to care much about his
absence, at all events
Each of us must pretend that she feels
awfully, because her husbands business en-
gagements are such as to keep him so long
absent. Each California widow must pre-
tend that her absent spouse is doing wonders
out there, (and no doubt he is, if the truth
were known.) She must hear from him
every mail, at all events, and receive a check
of $50 every month. These are some of the
demands made by society upon California
widows.
l. for one, protest against this position we
occupy. see no sense in our acting like a
community of hypocrites; or public opinion
making any such absurd demands. | feel
confident my experience is a fair specimen of
nine cases out of ten of California widows,
and will give it for your edification.
am young, good looking, interesting
lady, rs near as | can ascertain the decision
of the public, which is the trne standard in
all cases, social, civil and religious. had the
misfortune to marry man who is incapable
of appreciatng my wit, or being charmed
with my beauty / must confess that his
ordship is over forty, and am scarcely twen-
ty-fve, and some allowance ought to be made
for difference in 'qstes; but that is only an
additional reason why he should have been
more attentive to me. should have been
the one 20 run off and leave him; but no, |
took Just at much care to please him as if he
had been the most interesting man in the
world. made believe was glad to see him
when he came home from the store; got his
slippers in due form; kept the buttons on his
shirts and his stockings well darned. tried
to talk to him to the best of my ability, but
he ouly rewarded me by saying, DO keep
still, my dear; want to read the Zri6une.'
If | demonstrated, and begged him to listen
to something of interest, he added, 'what
makes you so silly!' which is soft way of
saying hold your tongue, and | obeyed, of
course, and let him read or smoke to his en-
tire satisfacton-only put up all the win
dows if it was cold as Greenland.
One day he came home from the store
rather more sociable than usual, and said very
composedly, Our speculatons have turned
out differently from what we anticipated; or,
in other words, we have tailed, and | am GO
ing to California in the next steamer We
have failed! Yes, thought |, you have failed
in more than one sense Of the word | failed
when married you, that is certain, and
shall fail Of getting rid of you after you are
gone. | have nothing better to do now than
to board with maiden aunt of my husband,
and keep up appearances. Ii | get letter
once month do well. If get u check of
500 twice year it is as much as ] ever Ie-
ceive, and the old maid keeps him duly in
formed Of all my movements. ! appeal to
my sister widows if this is not u striking
likeness Of their several cases.
We have been so unfortunate as 70 unite
our interests with class of men who are in
capable of appreciating our beauty, wit kind
ness, or any of the many graces with which
we are so richly gifted men who care for no
thing but TO smoke cigars and drink 80 -. 30
pagne. How can ladies Of "IeI '''Io
exDected to love sucl se' VI p'oN 'e"
I;s ont Of the :, lestion California is Just
the place for them, and they have sense
onopcb to understand the fact, and are off
The first opportunity. There they can smoke |
and drink to their entire satisfaction, without
the restraining influence Of their wives.
My object is to have some law passed with
regard to these interesting husbands, that
when they cross the Isthmus we shall be free
from their control. Then we can have some
satisfaction in trying to make the best Of a
bad bargain. We can do as we think proper
and not be responsible to some old gump out
in California for our acts. trust the So
called California Widows will send petit
ton to our Legislature, and thus obtain a re-
dress Of their grievances.
A CALIFORNIA WIDOW.