The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-01-19

of the discussions plainly Indicated q waning
confidence in the power of strikes. But what
are trade unions without strikes? They are an
army without weapons. When they forego the
use OF this Instrument of aggression and de-
tense, they ate shocn of all their power, and,
like an expensive but useless toy, will soon be
cast aside.
AT the same convention the discus
sions indicated that cooperation is be-
coming the favorite plan for remedylng
the evils complained OF. Now cooperation Is
certainly much better thing than unions, for
the control OF industry and strikes; il makes no
disturbance, 1t does not enforce or encourage
idleness, practises no tyranny, and need waste
no money ou orators aud secretaries, process
sions and celebrations. 1t has this advantage,
too, that those who engage in 1t Will generally
have shorter, cheaper, and more satisfactory
experience than they are getting in their pre-
sent school. This is the bes, that can be said
OF co operation. As the means of elevating the
condition Of the worklugman, 1t will prove
failure. Nay, 1t has already proved failure
II is a mistake TO suppose that IL is a modern
discovery. / see that It's records, Older than
the Christian religion. have been lately found.
Had we no historical evidence on the subject
We might be sure from the nature OF things
that plan so obvious and plausible rs that OF
co operation has often suggested itself to
laboGing men, and often been tried. But we
need not speculate or go far back for facts.
There is hardly a village of considerable size in
this country where the plan has not been
! tlitd by one or more OF the trades, in the
course OF the last hat.doZen years, and there is
not one in hundred OF the trials that hasnot
dsastrously failed. In my own some what eX-
tended observation, there is not one that has
lasted long enough to give it such established
character as TO entite il to be called success fu.
Cooperation has been tried in various fields.
Fifteen or twenty years ago, New England, aud
perhaps the whole country, was everywhere
spTinkled with "union stores" | think there is
not one of them in existence now. This was
very plausible and simple form of cooperation;
but, though captivating in It's theory and its
figures, and very alluring to the farmer aud the
mpllaDip-WlO naturally merchant
| the margin OF profit on which they saw him
grow 1ich faster than themselvea 1T proved, in
| practice, very Improbable.
From Mrs. R. Harding Davis article en-
titled "Mens Rights we make the following
quotation:-
The most salient and apparent change in
women, in the last fe years (G do mt say the
deepest, is not advance in intelligence, marked
as that may be; il is the growth in impurity. 1t
is simply transient effect of this reused and
ungratifed brain-power. The ordinary London
or New York woman is too far advanced in the
progress OF the age" to find employment tof
her awakened imagination or reason in house
keeping or in gossip; TOO little TO turn to art or
science or even downright hard business. In
self defense, then, she listens to lascivious
music, or looks at the living pictures of the
ballet where her passions at least are daintily
played upon. She reads, or writes, as the case
may be, novels in which few of the men are
honest, and none OF the women Vrtuous, or,
advancing step farther, she finds that but a
mean and ignoble life for woman which Is
sacrificed TO the children whom God has given
her; and, o. aesthetic principles, quietly does
her share in building up the temples to murder.
that openly face us in our most crowded
streets.
/ begin with an extreme case? Perhaps so.
Yet hunger is not choice in It's food, and there
is reason 10 doubt " hether the ordinary aliment
OF all women in literature or art. now, is whit
more pure and wholesome than that OF men,
coarse as we declare their appetites to be.
There is a class of subjects, the name OF which
! would bring the led TO the old lady's check
| yonder, but with which it is the fashion of the
day to make young girls thoroughly conversant.
! There is no need 10 send Nelly out of the room
! now, no matter what topic the matrons
may discuss. The terra inoogntta of grand
mothers is wcll-trodden ground TO her at
! sixteen,
How can it be otherwise?
| She finds not only men, but women, whose
names are tainted, among the leaders OF fashion,
able society; she sits beside her mother, and
sees her smiling at the bald inuecency of opera
bouffe without q. blush; she hears the social
evil" coolly discussed as a social necessity. 1t
is no wonder then, that, night after night, Nelly
herself may be seen, with back ami bosom
balf-baIed, whirlipg aud perspiring III Dick
French's arms, while her mother looks placidly
on. If l hint my disgust, am told severely
that TO the pure all thing are pure, and that the
obscene play and the waltz that sets Dick
Frenchs blood on fire, if looked on esthetically,
are, TO women, refined and innocent pleasures.
doubt If any man believes this. ~, for lack
of pure occupation for their brains and senses
women of society bring this ofal to pollute their
daily lives, they need not suppose that any
affected ignorance or aesthetic sunlight will
hide the real nature of the substance from the
men about them. Dick French, worn roue that
he is, has joined the school OF the critic of the
Saturday ReUietc. He asserts that all women
are represented by these. He hints that he
understands the lures that these decoietee bellies
put FORTH
''It's cursed hard on fellow,n he says. 'The
extravaganza of these women won't allow mar
to marry yet they tempt him 10 do it with all the
arts of the worst OF the demi.monde." T0en he
and his compeers adjust their eyeglasses, anC
lean against doorways, criticizing the PAGES o
the delicate young girls who are whirled past
as trader might the slaves in the market.
French goes too far. My little Nelly is no
in the market; she has her secret innocen
| dream OF true love and marriage some day, hi(
away in her heart. There is not one o
Frepch's crew whom she would marry. WheI
she unclotbes herself immouestly and surrender
her person to their touch, she has no ulterio
purpose beyond the intoxicating pleasure OF th
moment Custom has made her eyes familiar
, with indeCency-worn away the defensive in
stnct of purity with which every woman /
born; but that is the worst that can be said o
her. Yet, il her own blood be such ice that th(
exposure OF her person has no power to bring
blush TO her cheek, does IL matter nothing Il
! her that pleased, unclean eyes rest on her, Jha
half Of the men who look on Eer mistake he
motives, and pity the degradation she undergoe
in her effort TO please them?
use coarse language. The times are coarse
f The stale of society which can make Swim
burne possible can bear few plain word
without drtriment to its modesty. 1t is tru
that the evil Is as yet confined to our large cities
God forbid that the fashionable fast girl OF NeV
! York or Chicago should be received as tn
typical woman of America! She bears the SAM
2 proportion TO the women of the States that th
: feverish outbreak on the face does to the Who'll
! healthy, sweet bIooded body. But this soclet