The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1858-04-27
RUNAWAY MATCHES AND WOMEN'S
RIGHTS

hlGaIS.
Within the past week it is understood that an
unusual number of runaway matches have taken
place in this city. 1t is rumored that some OF our
principal up town hotels have been the scene OF
some of these amatory hegiras, and that certain
among the Wall street bankers more interested
in them than they would like.
Something, of course, must be allowed for the
vernal season. which, every one knows, prompts
mankind as we'll as the brute creation to love.
But even allowing for this, it strikes us, judging
from certain data before US, that the mania for
runaway matches must be on the increase We
believe it to be fact at the present time they form
quite large proportion of the aggregate mar
riages which are celebrated in these parts. They
have been on the increase for some time. One
NAV perhaps date the new Development of their
popularitv from the eclat which attended the
efforts of Miss Mary Ann somebody to become Mrs
John Dean in spite of the opposition of her family
and the frowning indignation or our best society.
That startling drama reused the energies and fired
the imagination of all the ardent young girls in the
city, They did not all sigh for red-haired Irish
themselves an Adons, perfect in face and figure,
and equally capable of winnings woman's affec-
tions and Drawing brothers wrath. But the
main thing they have pinned for has been hus-
band to run away with them, and, as we said, very
many of them have not pinned in vain. There are
hundreds of young married couples inhabting
New York at the present time who were in such a
hurry to become man and wife that they could not
wait for anybodys consent, or any vulgar pecunla-
ry means who are dependent upon the sup
port of some relation and see before them, as
plain as the sun at MONDAY, life of misery, OBJ
scurety and possibly crime.
1t may be asked how does it happen, in this en-
lightencd age, where our girls are so tremendously
educated that they know not only all they should,
but great deal besides which they would be bet
ter without, that young women should be found
ready to run away with idle vagabonds after few
days acquaintance? Our young girls are not
children. At IA they know everything. Most
New York girls at Is are as worldly minded as
men of 80 There is no dcceiving them or catch
ing them unawares. AS to passion they have
nothing of the kind about them. They mere
pretty, tanciful artistic, cold calculating, and
Prisingly clever pieces of notwithstanding
more Yet these same women will deliberately fly
in the face Of parents, friends society and common
sense to marry tipsy fiddler, OF idle, worthless
scamp of some sort Or other, who never could sup
port wife, and who takes one in order that she
may support him.
There can be very little doubt but the recent
agitation of the question Of women's rights has had
much to do with the increase of run away matches.
Her marriage is the only thing girl cares about
having her own way upon. She don't want to
vote, or to command ship, or 60 to Congress, Or
to plead causes, or to cauteriZe ulcers. But your
true daughter of Eve would rather, if you please,
choose her own husband, without regard to any
body else's opinion. Therefore when the woman S
rights advocates proclaim that she has a right to
independence of foreign control and that her in
dividual will is her best guide; when Mr. James
7. Brady and Mr. George W. Curtis preach in a
fashionable lecture against the horrid tyrran-
nv practced by parents and guardians over their
daughters and wards; when every insidious argu-
ment is employed to infame the minds of young
girls by painting the wrongs of women in vivid
colors, and calling upon them to assert their rights
as the equal of man; what can girl do, how can
she bear witness to the eloquence of the lecturer
better than by running away with coachman a
fdder-N T. Herald