The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-11-02
Social Science.

The late Lord BRouGHAM, WHOSE AinN
and philanthropic disposition LED MN NV =. =
come absurd alliances. was, We believes 'ae
first president of the humbug association -
Great Britain called the Society for rromo.
finn ~ Social Science. The meetings OF
th;. hoav are called congresses. One was
..s.,.,. ~ eession at Birmingham. Among
.be earliest topics brought to the attention
Of the Society in, perhaps, its first congress
,ros the alarming disproportion between the
number Of males and females in the King
don't appearing that the latter exceeded
the former by about 100000. What was to
be done with these forlorn women was
question chat commanded interest in pro-
portion to the difficulty Of its solution The
leaders we're principally men not at all
calculated to grapple with the subject.
The most they could do was to tell how the
disparity came about. The men had gone
to the army and navy-haa been trans
ported to the penal colonies-and had been
seduced by the gold fever to Australia ana
other fields. There they paused-they
were unable to devise any relief for the
husbandless women.
The female members of the association
affected to consider the subject, but mani
testify were not hearty in their investiga-
ton. They were most of them passes, and
were looking out for themselves, it being
time enough to look out for others when
they were helped. i; caiaf lid ;sr:. a-
We believe the inquiry has never gone
further. Blacksoood, in d racy article,
suggested a system of converts after that
of the Catholics, in which the five hundred
thousand. or as many of them as chose,
should take refuge, and follow the pursuits
suitedto female hands and intellects,: among
other things, teaching young girls needle
work and housekeeping. But the Society
treated .Blacksoood's suggestion with con-
tempt. ..-...... ..
This is o specimen Of the achievements OF
this conclave of blue stockings and slip
pered pantaloons.! It is, however,, refine
ment upon the mad association of socialists
at the North. They are more accomplished
and talk better sense than the American
fanatics but they do just as little good as
those who are vexing the public ear in this
country. ~. ,~a....s,..i n ....... ID
The British sociologists bring up for dis
cussion many things that are evils-perhaps
inherent, and not to be eradicated from 80
ciety; and they take up for discussion as
evils things that are conservative and use
full. They enter the political arena, and
propose radical changes in government.
Women's rights constitute the subject OF
lengthy discussions, and these are forced
upon the old men of the body by the sharp
and clever tongues Of the women, which
hold the other sex in awe.
And yet lords and ladies are included in
the list of members. Lord LYTTLEToN IS
one of them. Of him good story is told.
Pending the discussion Of the reform bill IN
the House of Lords he moved an amend
ment providing that no man should vote
unless he could read and write q legible
hand. He sent his amendment to the clerk,
aoho could not read it, which very much
amused the noble lords present!
This laxative body succeed in nothing
but laying before the world pictures OF
crime and evil which they do nothing to al
.leviate, and suggest social and constitu-
tional changes in society and government
which it is blessing to the world it is not
in their power to enforce! ..... ... ~.