Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1869-08-25
Gbe fretman,
MONTPELIER, vT.:
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 25, 1869.
For the Freeman.
Is Woman at the Feet or Side of
nn1s

At the Council OF CensOrs; one OF the hon
orable councillors seemed surprised that til,
wording of the report of the Committee OF
Woman Suffrage should represent the
present position of woman in enlightened
Vermont, as ''at the feet of man.
| will offer neither argument nor assertion
as to her position, but simply few facts
for the judgment of the reader.
The writer Iives in large village
average intelligence and wealth-but would
say, in passing, that most cf the women
would be found in the kitchen, and many oi
the men in the stores, Offices, &c, gossiping
and talking politics.
On my left hand lives professional man,
worth twenty-five Thousand dollars, and a
public sPirissd, generous man, oIst Of the ta11-
y. His wife wac iboraIy edrcated; and is
highly esteemed for her personal worth. Yet
this man will order this woman around like
a child. The bill at the store was more than
he thought it should be, (she does her own
work and is an economist and he forbid her
any more credit therein, making 7ery seeere
threats If she did not c6ey. lie kept the
property left her by her parents, in his own
name, notwithstanding the law now allows
her to own it. She at one time suggested
her rights, and he called her stingy, sell
fish woman" Is this woman at the feet or
side of her husband?
On my right hand lives an educated mar
who is wealthy. His wife has borne him six
children, and does all her housework. He
locks his money from her, and is unwilling
to give her any when asked. lie prays, for
hear him sometimes Is this woman living
1t his side or at hi5 feet
fe&t to this family lives a widow, living
with servants only The boys understand
how powerless 4 woman is without the ballot,
and they wantOnly break her fence and steal
her apples. Would suffrage. benefit her
Next family is good father and husband,
as far as l know His daughter married a
man who has deserted her the leaving her bet
,er fer his absence. Next to him lives an ed
ucated man, who swears fearfully to his
gentle wife when she asks pecuniary fayors,
though he has ample means. 4 prOfgate
man lives next, who married a noble woman.
The law, happily, has rid her of his offensive
BtNStLNI+ y AJNAA- duu uucDduu lives
next to this last man and need not say,
she lives by the side of her husband, and is
happy.
Opposite lives widow whose son was
killed in battle. Her lawyer, in getting her
pension, has cheated her out of all he could,
and clear the law. Should not woman have
the ballot defence? Docs che not need
- Hor Of bar ,L- Il
weakness
4 short time since, the writer called at a
house with a subscription paper, (then is the
time women tell their wrongs,) to see the
lady. 4 dollar was asked The lady began
to weep, saying, :" Husband is SO stingy of
his money, | have not dollar for myself"
Yet her husband is the richest man in town,
a church member, and she does all her own
work. Is this woman at the feet or side of
man?
All through town we would find this mix
ture IN the cup Of woman. And this town
is a good sample of other towns in Vermont,
no doubt.
y few weeks since received letter from
a friend, with - private marked on it. In
this she writes, 80 this bondage How
can get rid Of it, cannot stir without
being dictated. My husband tries every
method to save money at the expense of the
feelings of his friends. Woman's Rights
God speed the cause But it is too late for
me. 1t Will do coed to others, however"
This woman is sixty years old, her
husband is church member, son of pro-
fessional man, and lives in a town of superior
advantages. lie is rich, and he keeps the
money left her by her parents, in his own
name, as he got it before the law passed in
her favor. Is this woman at the feet of man ?
L.. r.