The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1867-10-11
EoNAN,g RIaHr To sIna BAsg...

6ASB Especially rs No eayS1 OH-@hSG
right to sing bass.'' It's written IN his
usual vigorous, earnest and impressive
style, and We regret that we have not
space to publish it entire. The first por,
ton of the article is a cutting. sataricai
comment upon the whole theory of "wo-
mans rights" which he calls "singiDp
bass" But in the concluding paragraphs
touching the very handspring of the mo-
ton which impels true men and women
to shrink from this pretended reform as
from pestileuce.
81 am firm believer in woman's rights
especially her right to do as she pleas
es. Il is possible that, before the law,
she Is not in possession of all of her
rights, but all wrongs in this direction
will be Corrected as time progresses.
speak Particularly at this time of her
right to sing bass, because it is a repre-
sentative right, and covers, as with lid.
a whole chest full of others. Yet, while
claim this right, / confess that 1 should
not care to see it exercised to any great
extent, for | think that treble is, by all
odds, the finer and more attractive part
IN music. Is it worth while to exercise
the ri ght of singing bass, when it costs
a good deal to get up a voice for it, aud
when treble comes natural and easy, and
is much pleasanter TO the ear? Bass
would be bad thing for a lullaby, aud
could only silence a baby by soaring it,
If should have committed to me the
melodies of the world, v ould caro- very
little about my right to sing those subOr-
dinate parts that gather round the hsr-
monies. at least | think I would, unless
some upstart man should deny my right
to sing anything but melodies. 1t it were
committed to ME to sing like bird, l
would not care, think, to exercise my
right to roar like bull. Ii can witch
the ears and win the heats of men and
women by doing that which can do cas-
lily and naturally aud well, then l shall do
best not to exercise my right to do that
which l can only do difficulty, and unna-
turally, and i'll.
Woman, in my apprehension, is the
mistress not alone of the melody of mu-
sic but of the melody of life. Whatever
it may be possible to do by cultivation
and long course of Development it
would be doubtful whether a woman ever
would sing bass we'll. l am aware that
she has the right, and the organs, but
question whether her bass would amount
to anything-Whelhev it would be worth
singing. When women talk with me
about their right to vote, and their right
TO practice law, and their right TO engage
in any business which usage has assigned
to man, say ''yes-you have all those
rights" / never dispute with them at
all. Indeed, you see how l bave put
myself forward as the defender of these
rights; yet l should be sorry to see them
exercised by the women admire aud
love. 1t is all very well to say that the
presence of women at the ballot box
would purify it and restrain the manners
of the men around it; but have seen
enough of the world to learn that all hu-
man influence was reciprocated anG rescE
tionary. Man and the ballot box might
gain, but woman would lose and men aud
the ballot box themselves wonld loose in
the long run. The ballot box is the bass,
and it should be mans business to sing
it, while woman should give him home
melody, with which il should harmonic.
In the matter of rights, l suppose that
I should not differ materially with auy
strong minded woman; but have always
observed that the most truly lovable, hum
BILE, pure hearted, God fearing and human
ity-loving women of my acquaintance,
never say anything about these rights and
scorn those of their sex who do. have
never known a woman who was at once
satisfied in her affections and discomfort
ed with her woman's lot and her Womsn's
work. There is a weak place, or a wrong
place, or rotton place, in the character or
nature of every woman who stands and
bowls upon the place where her creator
placed her, and neglects her own true
work and life while claiming the right to
do the aud live the life of man. will
admit all the rights that such woman
claims-sll that myself posses-if she
will lGt me alone, and keep her distance
from me. She may sing bass, but I do
not wish to hear her. She is repulsive to
me. She offends me.
believe in women. I believe they
are the sweetest, purest, most unselish,
best part of the human race. l have no
doubt on this subject, whatever. They
carry the leading part, at least in the sense
that they are a step in advance of US, all
the way in the journey hesVenWard.
believe that they cannot move very wide
" ont of the sphere which they now oc-
cupy, and remain as good as they now are;
and 1 deny that my belief rests upon any
sentimentality. or jealousy. or shy other
weak or unworthy basis. A man who
has experienced a mothers devotion,
wife's self-sacrifcing love, aud daugbt-
er's affection, and grateful for all, may be
weakly sentimental about some things but
not about women. He would he 2 every
woman he loves to the exercise of all the
rights, which hold dignity aud happiness.
for her. He would fight that she might
have those rights. if necessary; but he,
would rather have her lose her voice en-
tirely than to hear her sound bass note
so long as dsmi semi quaver."
A VIRGINIA negro boy. who professed