The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1862-12-17

that a woman. to whom he never spoke
before and propably never will again, may
pass over dry-shod, it is false to say that
the age of chivalry is gone. Talk of Sir
Walter Raleigh's gallanlry! Say rather
his shrewdness. Surely his was the most
economical use to which cloak was ever
put. What wonderful politeness was
there IN risking few yards of plush to
win the smile of sovereign whose smiles
were 'morey and fame and troops of
friends ?
IL am aware that this universal polite
ness has passed under the ban of certain
of my sex, who are plessed to consider and
designate it as 'doll-treatment,' and resent
it accordingly. They ask no favors, des-
pise condescensious. If | thought as they
do, l should probably act as they do
Only l do not.
Given if this courtesy were kind of
quid pro quo-a superhuity given for an
essential taking away-a Roland of kind
ness thrust upon US for an Oliver of right,
ffraudulently kept back-why, | am afraid
| must make the ignoble confession that
-beleve-I like the Roland better
than the Oliver-that is, if we cannot
have both--if rights preclude courtesy.
1t Is pleasanter, or, as Enslishmen would
say, 'jollier,' to sit by the fesh-pots of
Egypt, than to starVe legally in the prom
iSed land. Women would better improve
the rights they have, little more, before
going mad after others that they know
not Of. 1t seems to me that have business
enough on my hands new to occupy three
persons at least and if men 1oW be so
good as to do the law making, and stock
Jobbiug, and briblng, aud quarreling, and
stump-speaking, viii be greatly obliged
to them. 1t will give them employment,
aud take them off our hands for good
part Of the day, which is very convenient.
As the big man said, when asked why he
let his little wife beat him : 1t amuses
her and don't hurt me-"
The authoress having made these frank
admissions, turns deftly about and pro-
tests against the patronizing air which
women are discussed by the stronger sex 4:
From the confession Cf faith which |
have made, it will readily be inferred that
| have no petty spite to crafty, but that
speak more in sorrow than in anger when
| say that men do sometimes act like
acknowledgements devoid Of sense, (dic-
tionary definition of a word which l re
frain from using for courteous reasons
and it really is necessary to fall back on
undisputed proofs of their common sense
in other matters, to convince ourselves
that this is only nlonoStulihia.
IL do not blame men for not under
standing women. 1t is. perhaps not in
tie nature of things. Two organisms SO
delicate, yet so distinct-so often parallel,
yet SO entirely integral-can perhaps
never bethOrougly understood effectively.
But do blame them for obstinately per-
sisting in the belief that they do when
they don't.
"Do fatter myself that what I NAY
say will have the slightest tendency to
modify the views or the practice of any
one of my masculine readers, should [ be
so fortunate as to have any, Not in the
least. Though speak with the tongues
of men and of angels, yet of six men who
should do me the honor to read me, half a
dozen, invited to deliver an address at the
anniversary of female boarding school,
would rise slow in their places, smile down
a bland and benignant compliment to The
white-robed beauty before them, and glide
gracefully INTO an oily eulogium upon
woman's influence, her humanizing and
elevatinG mission, promulgating the novel
and startling theory that her power is in
her heart, not in her arm that she judges
by intuition rather than by induction
that her sphere is not in the rostrum,
but by the treside that she is to rule by
love, not by fear; interspersing some ven-
erable fling at woman's rights conventions
and their stroug minded leaders, quoting
with unutterabie pathos,
Il called herangel, but he called her wife
(Query: What right has any man to be
calling another mans wife angel ?)-and
winding up glOriOusly in metophoric
conclusion"
From this point the fair authoress pro
ceeds to discuss the health. education,
literary aspirations, etc., Of woman, Wig
orously and well. -...
Many young men would pay very little
regard to the church bells but for the
thought of the church bellies.