The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-06-28
Eronch vofco ON FcmaIe suffsauc

/
LEON GoHLAN, tho celebrated French novelist
died very suddenly fow months ago. On tho last
day Of his lifo ho commenced writing an article Oh
female suffrage, which was found unfinished OH his
table after his death. This fragment contains the
following characteristic passages:
"The National Assembly was right in closipp
agninst tho women tho doors of tho clubs, whore
tt oy would have inevitably lost tho remnants o
gracofulness which still distinguish thon from tbe
lords Of creation. For aomo timo to come il will
bc yet o good thing that thoro are two sexcs; at o
later tiuo wo shall 500. Until thon let us respect
customs and traditions and among hom the custom
which demands that women should giyo birth &c
children, and should endure tho annoyance oi
bringing thcm up.
''Wo havo in former times likewise deporcd tho
misfortunos OF women i'll society; have likowisc
demanded their emancipation in moro than one
book. But by our side 80 many books have arisen
havo hastened to lay down our pen. Whom We pro-
posed to break their CHAINS others proposd to un-
tic thor girdles. And what is tho worst, wo do
not know exactly whether OF not they arc chained,
willie i is evident that thor wear girdle.
,..Thcio arc great many rich men in our LeEis.
lative body. suppose women should DO elected
| mombors Of tho ohambor would it not be possible
that these nnbobs should bribo tho fair deputies
with nice presents2 For instance, the millionaire
representing tho Rhono department. might bribe
tho fair lady representing tho Seine-et-Oiso de-
partment with diamond bracelet, or tho fraiI ro-
prese1tetiro Of the DeuI sevros with pair Of
nlany famous oilicors in tho Chamber Officers
| whoso good looks arc greatly enhanced by their
military glory; who knows whether the epaulettea
tho feeling heart aud control the yoto Of tho beau
titul representative OF the Gironde, whero the
pootical3 do not speak OF tho lawyers few pretty
| representatives would visit them and they would
bo able to resist very few Of thom in turn. Never
on f sS 81 e DO do
"Apd thon you may bo suro that physiological
parties would bc organized by tho aide Of thS eI-
ladies in the chamber and that Of tho young ladies':
the party OF tho Widows and that OF the married
women; then the political eolors would be COM
plicnted by tho color or tho haif; there would be
the blonde party, tho brunette party, the ohesnut
party, tho loan constitutional party tho fat repub-
ican party. God forbid that this invasion should
overTheim owe. Francel She would thereby lose her
Imagine, further, thnt Maraeilles celebrated
ior her cooks and hor aower-girls, should send
tho Legislative body and that the old aristocratic
finisterro department should elect some Of her
proud mar-hionesses and duchessos2 These ladies
%oMa scratch out each others oyos; they would
"F Mature has dccreed that woman shall
DO tho eternal H contrast OF mar, that man may bo
osity, and instigated by his desires From the
day whom women will wear pantaloons and paletots
population will no longor increase. s4s
TINT it would be an anomaly to allow womon to be
members OF clubs, and not to allow them to be-
como members Of tho Chambers. II ono rayo
them the right OF making Instructions, it would
be strange not 70 confer the right Of suppressinc
them. And Chamber with Representatives of
both sexes would bo queer thing. Curious in
tiuonces would be brought to bear on tho men,
bers-the influence Of the eyes, OF the toilet, OF
pouting, tho influence of tho hands moeting in the
oa lot-box, &C., without speaking OF tho dark pas.
sages OF the Palais-B Bourbon, and the sombro old
alloys in tho adjoining park, whero tho ladies and
gentlemen OF the Chamber would happen to meet
so often l ~ ,H1 ff'-. 'NN
"And when they would be at the Chamber and
at the club, who should take care Of tho house
Who should salt the Roup2 Who should receive
visitors, and nurse the children2 Perhaps, the
husbands. I,U ...f0 ~ :. ,'e. r. Wv
'Women who aro not yet devoid Of sense, this
quality which becomes 30 very rare in Franco.
women OF mind whom bad books have not vet do.
graded, women Of heart who have not yet allowed
tho chasto fro OF tho loyo OF family lito to become
extinct in your bosom, ,-of tho family, the frat
society created by God and destined 70 remain tho
last OF any on Garth, women Of all Glasses who still
smilo at tho smile OF your beloved husband, and
weep with your slok children, you WHO enhance
oil our joys and diminish all our pains by your
solo presence at our domestic hearth, 60 and
thank the National Assembly for the honor it con-
ferred upon you by closing the doors OF the clubs
against you. Neyor was, an afront worthier,
mover was an insult moro sublime. Tho box on
the ear made OF you grandees and Queens as the
bog boz; on tho ear which tho Popes gave formetly to
.-e ms - anrmany, made them Emperors.