The New York herald., 1869-05-19
NTEaEST.IG CORRESPONDENCE.
One OF the Inferior Sex Attempts To Erter the
Sacred Precincts Of the Soross-He is IgnO-
miniOusiy Denied AdmissiOn-Sauce for the
Goose Is Nor iauca for The Gnnder.

sacred Precincts Of the SOross-IIe is lsnO-
m'ni0usiy Denied AdmissiOn-sauce for the
Goose Is Not Sauco for the Gnnder.
Happears by the following communications that
gentleman connected with the press OF this city,
we as being otherwise respectfully connected hav-
ing attended all the womens rights meetings and
listened to all the arguments OF the ''strsng-
minded" became Onvert TO their views. lie could
not resist the powerful reasoning to which he was
SUBJECTED and was convinced that exclusiveness be-
tween the sexes or the disqualification of one from
partakng OF the occupations amusements or buss.
aess employments OF the other could not be de-
iended observing that the ladies bad established
ciuD ander the name OF the SOr0ss, 10 which no men
hau applied LOT membership, he determined to make
q beg inning and sent the following communication
asking for admission, and Offering in exchange, to
propose any lady who desired 1t as o member OF the
various clubs to which he had the entree. From the
answer which he received 1t would appear that the
rule on the subject does not work both ways<-
To THE HONORABLE PRESIDRNrEss AND MEMBERS OF
Pardon me If, in the address to this communica.
t0n may be guilty OF Oreacn of the correct rules
oil grammar, critically considered; but l am not
positively assured whether should say president
or presidentess. chairman or cnairwOman, or pre-
ciSely what form OF speech should be used IN CON-
Inuncating with your body an Its presiding Oilcer.
aesire respectfully to present pettlon for your
CONSIDERATION, and to do so according to appropriate
aAd accepted formula. For any deIects OF form or
substance the novelty OF The circumstances must be
my excuse. wish TO Apply for admission TO men,
bershlp In the Sorosis. Acknowledging fully the
damaging and unqueStionabe TACT tnat belong to
the male sex, l.stlli nope hat this objection not
be regarded as conclusive disqualification, and II
tnere are any other difficulties In The way beg OF
you to look upon my denc encies lelienGiy, IN con-
slderatiOn or the disadvantages tnat my sex
labOrs under in The present preudiced state OF the
public mind. do not even know what are the pre-
else requisites for membership and your proceed
inss are In measure under The seal OF secrecy, my
inquiries nave not met WI IA satisfactory response
suppose, however that your association ls not
much more strict than the clubs composed of men,
and as have belonged to many OF those existing III
the city and have never yet been expelled from any
may presume-wlthout preSumpu0n-that have
the necessary qualifications unless Cne point OF
sex Is conclusive against me. On the latter subject
1t IS hardly necessary me to repeat the arguments
which your body or the individuals composing 1t
have so often and so elOquently brought against the
exclusveness OF the coteries OF males. the injus
tce the lnpropriety, the unreas0nabenesS OF such
an exclusion, the advantages OF assOcia-
ton, OF communication, OF social intercourse,
between those whom nature intended to be on the
closest terms OF friendship and intlmacy-these
arguments have Already astonished the world,
tirely convinced myself They are equally applicable
when the position OF affairs Is transposed. II women
can consider themselves as aOused lnsulied, NAL
treated and downtrodden under certain crcum- |
stances, men, wnea served In the same way, have |
the same cause OF complaint
III you nave been prosecuted when weak and |
divided you surely. in your generous natures would
not persecute others now That you are strong and |
united. The exclusveness that has been exhibited |
towards you you would not exhibit towards others.
The example founded on Plymouth kock OF de-
maudlng freedom OF conscience for ones self and |
denying 1t to ones nelghbor should not be followed
by your wiser, genter, purer and more sensible
ciation. You could not condemn the inuulsItion
when applied to yourselves If you insisted upon
vertlng with IL those who might diner from you In
belief you certainly could not be guilty OF the in
consistency OF refusing an equality which you de-
mand. III each OF you Is to be woman and q SIS
ter insist that 1 shall be man and brother. If
admission to the Sorosls. mighty principle Is here
involved, ana my individual case Is only put for
your sex should not be excluded from our clubs,
how can you reasonably insist that my sex shall ex-
cude me from yours? Pause ere you refuse my Pc
tition.
have already applied to one or more of your
members 70 propose me in the way usually followed
replies one lady said something
about 'sour grapes" which did not clearly un-
derstand. but which appeared 10 give her
female friends infinite amusement Another replied
that she "knew nothing about gentlemen" This
a wofu confession Of ignorance. We men are rarely
thoroughly versed In the pecuarties and habits OF
and devoted in our investigation OF them. We even
often select single specimen-the law does not per.
INIT us to take more.for particular aud life long
Ing whether II be general or special and devote q
large part OF our time to it. And think that the
lady referred to cannot have expressed the views of
your entire association when she implied that an |
acquaintance with man was not worth the trouble 1t
Another OF your associates informed me that II I
were elected must wear calico and crinone.
l
When women asked to be admitted to our clubs thew
nd not propose to surrender their dress the less
becoming and suitable one worn BY us; nor did they
)ner TO assume those habtments which are specially
distinctive OF man. fashionable as these have lately
become on the theatrical stage. They cannot there
,othe ourselves In strange costumes and devote our
minds to 'the last thing in bonnets' the 'newest
styles IN slks' or the intrcacies OF the 'duplex |
elliptic" Your association has passed a resou-
lon that each member should be law unto |
isrdy have repealed ALREADY eneoauterea soa
many other rebuns and not . little OF what
ounded 70 me like sarcasm, and am fain 70
Idmit that met with no encouragement whatever. |
feeling, however, how important was the Issue at |
take, was determined 70 make my wrongs heard
Isk no special privileges. am willing and able to
,sy my initiation fee and my yearly Dues and shall III
lot call upon any lady 70 treat" me IN those mat
sk her TO treat me az she would be treated. Nor do
claim this without being willing to render fair
he Sportsmen's Club the Cricket Club the Boxing
hub and OF several other similar organizations II
my lady wishes to join either OF these ner applica-
ion shall have my vote and support viii 90 INV
est TO secure her far consideration her merits
lone % ana iui participation IN all pastmes and pri-
neges and II were untrue TO this obligation you
ould then expel Inc from your delightful society.
have some claim TO your consideration. Through
he contributions OF ladies' placed on the same
ass as those OF gentlemen. When had to pay
or them we paid at the same rate for each When
woman did the same work as man she received from ,
hat just journal the same remuneration In that !
lce Tue auies were not only treated as equals but
cry often as superiors, strange us that appear
ou The result you may have observed IN the large
lumber Of songs stories and communications writ.
en- 10y members or your sex In the Cttlzen. have ,
invariably urged upon the Press Club that the exclu
ION oil women should he repealed. 1t Is true that
m the occasion OF certain public dinners have
aken the contrary view, but that originated from !
mother absurd prejudice. IL was said tnat n I
aides were admitted smoking must be prohibited :
nd, of course, when Ii came TO rivairy between
lgar and awoman there could be but one answer. | !
10 not mean this exactly but that 1t seemed TO that
he Iault lay with your SEX Tor perfectly will
ny TO let you come you would only take kindly to
he cigar. IT, however was wrong in tlis matter :
md should have valued woman More aud cigars less !
hope you will not consider ths error as the /
objectionable sin but instruct and direct Inc In tue d
uture AS 10 what course should take in reference
o the matter. To no guidance would more readily
urrender myself. and no better opportunity to iu-
rove me could present Itself than by admitting me
o the privileges OF the Sorosis T.,
With great humility and lively sense OF the nn-
Forthincss or my sex, beg Leave to subscribe nv.