The Richmond Indiana palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1854-1855, 1855-01-05
COMMUNlC EEON
More about Women Riding in Public.

she ..lets off, some very uncomplimentary opln
ions concerning these same female equstrlans.
When we FIRST heard Of this new movement, we
were rauch surprised, and were weak as many
are in condemning it, only because it was nec,
but when we heard of it being done at several
Fairs, our seruples, what few we had, vanished.
We know not what the opinion of people gen
orally is in regard to this thing, but we do know
that ell are too apt to set any thing down that
comes up, that IS out of the ''oli way" as I'M
proper bold or sinful, instead of judging accor-
ding TO right or aCr0ng. We do not take II that
these women wished 20 ''show themselves on
very cheap, the object to seems to be- TO
show how far this beautiful accomplishment can
be carried to perfection. We do not think any
ones idea of Jenny Lind, is that she is bold
rough woman; she. was endowed by her Creator
with wondrous powers, by which she stirred
emotions for good In the hearts OF many. 1t would
have been hiding her talent in the earth, and
throwing aside Gods precious gifts. to have let
them to waste or perish for want Of nurture.
And if woman has been taught the art OF riding
on horse back fperhaps the first lessons were taken
some old Dobbn as he went tired and slow
to water, at time,) and has the nerve to
manage a horse, and the grace Of carriage that
good rider possesses; if she thinks this healthful
exercise and has made habit of taking frequent
rides, why should she be degrading herself by
riding at Fair. OF course she has been looked
at when riding ordinary occasions, for
suppose there is woman very, very modest
as to choose her course through .'some vast viii
derness, some boundless contiguity of shade
or that she went entirely yelled except two places
for her eyes to peep through, for fear of the
gaze of meni
AS far as the principle of giving premiums
goes, we have long wondered whether this is
right In regard to many things exhibited at
fairs the question often arises, have premiums
been given justly2
1t is quite common for concerts to be given by
prominent female members of churches; and
the pay they receive was for the benefit of the
church. If this is bold in these women SO much
tho worse for their cause. Female teachers
make themselves seen and heard at public exhi-
oiVans; If it is rot wrong to sing and play on
instruments .n public; to read, or to declaim, or
70 make addresses, ought it be thought wrong
to ride in public?
Would not sensible woman, riding at fair,
be setting herself up show to the women as
much as to the men? The manner of sitting
her horse. and her dress is intended as model
for the women As far men being appointed
Judges COOS, ri1e reason probably is because there
are few females who know how to ride; 1t
would be difficult thing to find committee of
for the occasion. We pretty sure
that gentlemen would make the best Judges,
though women are generally the most graceful
and skilltui riders, when they do undertake 1t.
We should be sorry indeed to thfnk that all the
men who have interested themselves these
occasions, had an impure wicked curiosity,
that their object was to see women ''throw
away their modesty,'' or that they thought this
was the case Our opinion of the men IS not
that bad The bible" SAYS: The heart of
man is deceitfu above all things and desperately
wicked" But certainly times have changed
a little since these words written, for we
think women go ahead of men as far as deceit Is
concerned. but we are pretty well convinced
~. .sIa lyaI
II there is class Of low men, who never see
woman anywhere, but they degrade themselves,
not the s0onen, by their remarks, who need care?
Should not every woman-eyery true Lady, lift
herself so far above such a man, not to heed
what he may say to his associates mean
himself? There is one great distinguishing mark
OF a gentleman--he treats every
he would wish his own mother, wife, sister,
daughter treated l once heard say: Il
would as leave takemy wife and children through
as much of the lotrer regiohs as through the
streets of this town, account of the vile
marks the fellows on the streets make about every
woman that passss.' Now if there are certain
mean corner loungers who nakeit their business
TO talk of ladies, does it make it wrong for
women TO walk the streets, TO attend 10 their
business. or 10 visit Oh. for the sake of womans
independence; for the sake of the rising genera
ton; let this continual cry, this everlasting hack
MED theme be stopped, this favorte harp string
be broken: what viii the men think, what will
the men say, how viii il look 10 the men? We
do not feel like referring 10 their judgment quite
SO much, for we have no such an exalted opinion
OF them as that; though we knew one man who
had great judgment and taste, when he-but
never mind-he did ask very important ques-
uon Is II right or wrong. or what will the wo
men sew, or how will itloa TO the children, would
oe quite as consistent. If these men would
spend some of their precious time talking about
some OF their own SEX (if they must talk about
People they would be as well employed. There is
q wide ted of labor for them; they need go no
great distance 70 find subjects Ii they would
quit smoking in women's faces, and stop that never
ending shower bath of tobacco Juice from their
lovely mouths to the pavementS, 50 as TO soil the
GestcGfs hin soles Of ladies shoes It would suit
siehi Just As well; and if some Of the women (if
they mus talk teel would talk about these beauti
iui specimens OF humanity and leave their own
Sex alone, their Time would be as we'll emploved
to say the least. They and the men had better
wal TIL women are guilty Of such in1pi,ritias chat
some men practice, before they saw such har5
things of them Mrs. Abbot saws farther On in
her article, They go against all the rules laid
down IN the Bible, 10 regulate their conduct
There we are nearly in corner, for we are not
sure that We can rake up any scripture that has
any direct bearing on the subject There was
Certain man named Paul. who said many things
respecting women. widows especially. as he
never had wife perhaps he had soma little
grunge or pick atthe sex, one piece OF advice
%semnnsnd: was wives obey your husbands
now, IN these days civilization is SO far advanced
way wives don't do any such thing. a true wife
SV.-Tsf, L. L