The River Falls journal. (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1857-1861, 1858-05-05
For the JOURNAL.
Tne Ladies, PROTEST.

voeate Of " Woman's Rights yet be-
heye there are certain privileges TO which
woman has an undeniable right-one of
which IS, to seek the redress of any unjust
restraints enjoined upon her by the other
sex; and it is with this sentiment that I
have ventured to seek through your col
umns a remedy for one of the wrongs
inflicted upon the ladies Of River Falls.
1t is /; well known fact, that the female
portion Of our community have been pro-
hibited from visiting the Falls, or straying
slong the banks of the river, either alone
or accompanied by gentlemen, because
some Of those who pride themselves upon
being the "lords of creation" have seen
fit to entirely monopolize the stream, ap-
propriatiug it to themselves as bathing
place between the months of April and
November; and that too, at all hours of
the day, so that all ladies making any
pretensions tie propriety, have been re-
strained from enjoying and admiring the
pleasant scenery along our beautiful Kin
nickiln:c.
There's music in Nature-sweet, I'M
written music-though oftentines I'M
heard by the busy children of earth.
There's strange music in the breeze, whis-
pering in low thrilling tones through the
lofty pines, coming as the re-echoes from
the spirit-land weakening the fold
chain of earthliness and sim" There is
music in the laughing stream as it wan
ders through smiling mead ows and spark
ling in the rays of the summers sun, fear
Icssly rushing onward, and anon gliding
noiselessly through some shady nook,
until at length, with increasing force, it
plunges from precipitous rocks and is
thrown into the widest confusion. How
beautiful in the evening time, to listen to
the song of wind and wave
when from gushing fount and streamlet,
Lilly bell and forest din.
Rise in low and liquid mtirmurs,
Natures vesper hymn"
There is music and beauty everywhere
throughout Gods vast universe. Who
has not felt his heart made better and
purer after an hour spent in silent com
muning with nature! Who has not felt
when saddened by a wearying world,
the soothing influence of the softly signing
breeze, entering the darkest recesscs 0.
the heart? Truly it
"Has power to lull to rest
The warnings after human love,
Which fill the human breast"
And shall they who have been termed
the weaker sex, be debarred from. The
enjoyment afforded bya sweet commu
non with the Creator, through these bis
glorious works, to crafty the selfishness
Of those WHO have lost all regard for pro-
priety or dccency? May aye not learn
lessons of purity, Of goodness, and o.
charity toward. all frol, the eShaustlcsS
tones of Natureg We hum5ly appeal te
the nobler of the men of this comhlun' cY'
asking that something may be done speed
lily to give us, ere the coming summer
passes away, an opportunity of recreating
Ourselves in the perusal Of the immense
volume Of Nature spread out around us,
and of blending with song of praise from
inanimate creation the silent, greatest
homage of our souls, to be borne on the
gentlest breeze into the presence of tie
Bounteous Oliver of all good.
Now that so many of our friends from
the East are visiting us, shall we be de-
prived of the privilege of pointing out to
them the beauties of our Western home
Be assured, [ am not alone in presenting
this request, but only act as agent for
many others who sympathize most fully
with me in this respect.
And now, Messrs. Editors, if our ap-
peal is right and judicious, we shall ex-
pect you, as the conseryators Of public
virtue, to sanction it by your efforts in our
behalf; or if you deem it wrong and pre-
stump uous to inform us achy sce may not
be allowed the same privilege as the men
that of wandering along the rivers
bank freely and .fearlessly.
E. X. T.
River Falls, May 5th, 1858.