The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1859-02-02
ELKApER, Jan. %, 1859

ELKApER, Jan. %, 1859.
Aunt Maggie has informed the readers of the
Times, that the Elkader Ladies Temperance
Society purposed to have meeting and did
not. We should like to tell them why. We
had held several public meetings in the course
of the year, some which have been noticed in
the Times, and some equally as good, have not
We had 50 far depended uron our home resour
ces, but at our annual meeting We concluded
to try to do something more extensive. We
thought the female connection we had raised
rcsemblrd too much ''tempest in teapot"
and that lecture from some talented gentle.
man, might perhaps. more effectually influence
public sentiment for good. Tie CORE spending
Secretary was instructed to invite lecturer,
and she accordingly solicited the services of
several gentlemen of known talent and reform
principles, hut from each one came the response,
81 pray thee have me excused
The apologies of some were reasonable, and
we thank them for the interest EXPRESSED in our
cause, but must say that benevolence and re-
form spirit is sadly wanting in some OF the great
men of t'is region. The reply TO the last APP
plication was delayed so long that no time was
left to make new arrangements, and We had no
obtain foreign aid, We determined to do our own
talking at the next meeting which is to come
slider that we are assuming any new rights, or
invading the rights Of others by speaking the
truth upon subject which vitality interests us
all. If any have right to talk Temperance
it is women. for it affects our homes and hearts,
and none can be so much interested in it as VIZ
are. We have used the "physical force" of GU,
tongues and pens against lntemperance. 'Our
offence hath this extent, no more.' We have
regular meetings the first Tuesday in every
month, and when We choose, nsite the public to
| attend. If that flying artillery" spoken of
| by Veritus, would favor us with their aid, il
would be thankfully accepted at some future
meeting.
At our annual meeting. an entire new set o
officers were elected, not on account of dissat
isfaction with the old ones, but we believe il
rotation in Office. The old stone hall where ",
held our first public meetings, (peace be to it
walls,) is deserted for a much more commodou
and beautiful place. the new Congregations
Church. 1t will be seen that we are still i,
existence and undismayed. We make M
promises of how long We may continue. W.
do not pretend to have made the great discov
cry of perpetual motion, and there is usually al
end OF oil thinge. Some of us do not like tx
talk. aud when those who do, have told all W.
know, we intend to stop.
A gentleman in lecture recently delivered
here, said that when speakers have learned t.
say what they have to say, and stop when the,
get through, the millennium Of public speaking
will have arrived. We are Of his opinion ex
ac'ly. and shall never keep up a din for the sake
Of the noise. The article in the Times signee
by "True friend of Temperance" is quite
beyond our comprehension. Websters I'm
abridged gives no clue to the meaning of som.
Of the words. and the peculiar combination O
others baffles our understanding. We are plain
practical women, not versed in heather my thol
ogy, and cannot be expected to appreciate the
lofty flights of genius. A careful study Of the
production might teach US something in Ortho
graphy and punctuation, but we fear we are too
old to learn. We gather this much from it.
that if his assertions are true, he occupies the
position Of the long cared animal in the fable
who kicked the lion after he Was dead bu,
facts do not warrant the accusation OF such
cowardice, for his courage exceeds that Of his
"illustrious predecessor" inasmuch as he has
attacked live constitution
| A MEMBER OF THE T.. Its.