Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1855-12-12
Companlonshlp of vvoman's Rights.

FIRST, however, let us copy iunny story OF
BRIDES repenting at the altar, on reati-tng accl
dentally, that she was about to make over all her
u,0neu AS well as all her loveness 10 her BRIDE
groom -
sin the parish of Blackawton, Devonshire.
lives thrifty widow, whn carries on farm sue
cessiully. and who. although nearly fifty, is not
vet invincible TO the arrows OF Cupid. She has
been wOued and won by sawart yeoman,
widower, named Nottle and one day last week,
the happy cnuple repaired TO Backawlon church.
for the purpose of being joined together In holy
matriinony The officiating clergyman informed
the worthy pair that he desired TO say few
words to them before he tied the indlssDnble knot
which would bind them together Tor better or
worse. so long as they both should live. with
much elounence he discoursed on the s0lemnty
and deep import of the marriage state-o' It's du
ties and priyleges-and of lis vast influence for
goud or for evil On the future career OF those who
en er into lis holy bonds; and then ne ven'ured TO
inquire if the bride had had the worldly wisdom
| to secure untu herself, or her children. what she
pissess4d of this worlds goods; because, 1t she
had not, the performance of the marriage cere'no
ny would make both her and all she possessed I,
the lawful property Of her welded husband lie
cmnseIled her 10 reflect on this and pause ere tan
late Whether the brldegroom's s tongue was still
cd Nv the surprise consequent On this lawyer-like
conduct OF the parsOn, is not known; but certain
il is that his intended bride refused to become his
wife and they returned to the farns,ead as they
! left it-uot nan and wife The aff,r has crea-
ted quite sensation in the neighbDrhood."
And here is what the Hon. Mrs. Norton, the
handsonest woman in England Eve used to agree
with noSt men in thinking, twenty years ago.
saws on another brauch of this subjPct:-
| And thus it Is that this legal fiction OF the
lnon existence of hurried women SIs as curse
upon married and single alike. 1t tants. from
frs, 10 last, the stream of their life. And Heaven
only knows what crop Of misery is the rank re.
suit As society is at present constituted women
are educated. not to do, hut to suffer. In snne
classes. self support is repfoach, mon only to the
selfsusajnlag worker herself. out To oil who be-
long 10 her. SlcieIy de:rees that she shall be
non existent that she shall depend. perhaps up
on charity grud!lngly bestuwed-that she shall
live in state OF penuriouS denesS, useless, quer-
uous. unhappy
And from red morning to the dewy fall :,
Folding her listleSs hands, pursue no aim at ALL
hut outwardly he what the world is pleased 10 call
a L1ty ln other classes the curse works more
griey0usly. Oar prasan, girls are not Trained Tor
labor Society dues not encourage them Ia labor
They reach the dangerous age of ncipient wo-
nanhoud III educated. unskilled, aimless. useless
fit. indeed, Tor nothing, and. If tit. seeing noth
ing to employ their fitness. They are rot trained
10 make rood wVes--hey are col trained tn make
goud servants. They are not trained Ior 'ndepen-
dent employment, and there is little Independent
employment for them. ii they were. There Is
nothing sadder in human life than this And
there is greater question than that OF w Wonan's
Work.