Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1856-01-03
EVENING STAR.
THE BLooMER TO SALLY sUNFLowER.
W.s41yaroN Dec % Is55

I i
venture prescription; but true to the dignity
of my profession, shall forbear. / was really
| under the impression that we were discussing
| the merits and dement's, the why s and where
| foreS of Bloomerism, while the article before
me from Sally's pen is fertile in " Womans
Rights" SaIIy's homeless situation, (Which
| L trust some bachelor needing a careful arosc
| will see to- the ercsSSiVs politeness to which
| she is subjected, to which is added a very hap
| pifying state Of mind under which she has
been and is laboring; her own remarkable
| beauty, ito which L have no claims to plead
| guilty and last though not least, the very
satisfying discovery, as where to classify me.
| (Query-How p And first / must acknow-
ledge the fact that it is much easier and
| pleasenter task to answer "pert" people than
| to enlighten ignorant ones.
| Sally, our ''den'' is not guarded by danger
Gus dragons, nor is it entered by charmed por-
tails, but should you call, a sweet little Ger
| man maid will show you the +" den" Of the
g Lioness, Whose nails are closely pared that
her scratches may not be dangerous, should
| she become enraged; though she is not easily
excited, and perfectly docile save when irri-
lated But then, Sally, you need have no fear,
| for her 8 den" Is quite c0mmodious, and you
| being (what she is ROt) a great favorite among
| the gentlemen, can bring a small host along as
"bOdy guard" who would be most happy in
case OF dire need to have so fine an opportunity
/
| while they protected you from her fangs and
ugliness: give their gallantry one more test
As TO joining that " committee of the whole, -
| being accustomed to stand atone, | shall ask
| to be excused from its number when it as.
| sembleS. see no occasion 10 adopt the - cos
tune of the sterner sex" because l think nsiRs
| superior in point of merit, and decidedly more
tasteful for me- then | have not the slightest
| hope of winning husband in Washington" :"
| for 1T takes a g man. to 1ctn and 1ced
Bloomer. Again, If ever get married, Ga very
| unlikely thing indeed | hope TO get one smart
enough to wear his own " "breeches," =" while |
stand true, under his protection and manIv
| support. This usurping authority is something
don't like, and hope L shall never be guilty
| of; bat do like a strong character capable of
| sustaining its own individuality though the
| world OF ''iSally Suzhowers'' may scott sneak
ing, and write pithy newspaper articles. /
! wish 10 usurp none of my brothers manliness.
Poor fellows, most of them have little enough
now. But L would see a nobler type Of men
| and women, who scOrned to stOop To the petty
connivanee now practised towards each other
| would they might know the pleasure Of low
| ing truth. for the truths sake, doing right.
for the love of it, mutually aiding, instructing,
and beneftting the other; ennobling instead
| OF degrading. And among the silly, simper-
ing narrow minds of the present day, no
| greater compliment can be given me than that
| OF I" strong minded woman"
| With your permission, Mr. Editor, will
here speak word of self. l stand among
| you in my unaided and unsubdued strength
the butt of the ridcule, jests, and newspaper
| squlbs of the day. And why Simply be
| cause L wear my skirts little shorter than
| my slster-my pants warm and comfortable
| instead of daintiiy embroidered garments
| In othen words, L say the present style of
| dress units woman for the active duties Of
Il 70 olynr.1 har H.. IL = e. e
| the highest Office of her being-that of
mother. As a physician to my sex / speak
what experience and observation have taught
me, together with that of others. L know il
| TO be true; doubt not my sincerity Now it
| is usually one thing to preach and another to
practice. Hence, to give harmony to my
character shall practice what l preach with
all the whole hearted energy and soul brave
ry can command. If moral courage is the
right arm of reform, L shall invoke It's aid
meeting the opposing influences thrown arousd
me as would any other show without sub
stance, word without meaning, powder with
out ball, lightning without thunder / have
honesty of purpose, and / shall try TO give it
a practical indwelling within my soul. |
wish not my life 10 be " a lie" TO my princ-
Piles. l would see society aroused from the
moral palsy that is rests over it as it plunges
into the whirlpool of fashion regardless Of
health or high progressive attainments; and
when we work for life's greatest good there is |
bliss in activity which gives strength to the |
resOlute will. The path of truth and error
lies before US and we walk in either at our
will, and meet the consequences Should |
theorize to my patient in relation to her duty, |
might she not justly excuse herself by retort- |
ing my nOn-perfOrmance if | Joined not prac-
tice to theory Theory must be harmonizeG /
by practice, else it has no vivifying life. 1t /
is n dead, unseemly thing. Says an old wri-
ter, " Theory is the general; practice fights
the battles, and wins the victory"
An old adage says, " Tis character, not
dress, that makes the man." yet to the mass
it is % dress that makes the woman; which |
L partially grant, for, "dear creatures
many have little to boast of save their dress
to such character is not the Srne qua non OF
existence.
You will say this determination 10 be spe-
cialist will weaken my powers of doing the
good might to my suffering sister in my pro-
teSsiOn. / doubt il not. Among some il will |
have an all powerful influence, but if | must
walk to preferment over a dead conscience, |
God grant that l may never arrive there
have said, by act, and now repeat by words, |
:. Ladies of Washington. if you prefer the care |
of your own sex by your sick couch in the hour
of suffering and trial, am at your disposal;
but you must take me On my own terms;
have chosen my profession because | liked IL \
and felt it to be the highest and hoIiest duty
OF woman to educate herself, that she might
be the physician to her sex. Though at your ,
service, am not dependent upon your pat
ronage for subsistence L have other duties
that brought me to Washington, and shall do !
no violence to my conscience of my all of dutg :
for your sakes, dear as the well-being of my !
sister is TO me. l have my standard, YOU ;
have yours-One or both are false [ can :
show you thousand glaring faults in yours, :
you can only point me to the brand Of costume +
and public opinion resting over mine have
n strong riH power, which gives me omnipo- Ia
tent faith, that way will be opened by which ]
L may realize my full fruition for the obsta- J
cles L now meet; if am only true to myself :
and the cause L have espoused. This princi- =
pie of my life, inborn within my soul, is not
the least health blooming possibility that has
met the cOntending influences Of earth and ,
aud L do not believe it will remain in statu
1uO for many years, but woman, awakened to
the greater needs Of her being, as the mothers n
1f the future, will arise purged from the in | \
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