North Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1867-current, 1869-02-10
VIZ very gladly give place to the letter

W. very Kl0uiy give place w shc aesaeE
below. We were not aware that "Ethel
Lynn nomme de plume, doubtless
was an authoress or that the article
appeared originally in the New York
Ledger. It makes little difference to us
scAo writes good thing: if it suits us,
we seldom inquire the name of the author
or authoress. There may be injustice in
this, we admit, but it go frequently happens
that pretended authors attach their names
to fine productions published years ago
that we are almost afraid to credit any
body. Plagiarism, or literary stealing, is
even charged to Shakespeare, the lmmor-
talav If the Bard of Avon stole ideas and
clothed them in language which no mortal
has yet equalled, we are content to call
him the greatest success as an appropria-
ter that ever lived. Many of those who
condemn him, would be far more success
full if they knew enough to select as
proper goods as he for the rejecting
mind. "Fannie' will regard us as thank
full for being called to order:
Col. Richardson I'm late number of
your always interesting paper, you pub
lished poem entitled (which" Iagree
with you in your opinion Of the poem. 1t
is beautiful, and 90 true to nature. It
originally appeared in the "New York
Ledger" with the title Of Switch shall it
be 2" by "Ethel Lynn" Shells the au-
thoress of many exquisite gems which
appear in that paper. One, "a common
s,ldier'' which was SO extensively copied
by the press during the war, need only to
be read, to be appreciated. think it too
bad that she should not haye the credit of
them. If could write like her, land
what would not give for the poverty l
should want the honor of it. Some pa
pers, (dont take Col.) have such way Of
sneering at, and condemning the Ledger,
and then copying its articles without
credit / admit there are some silly
stories in it, but the most Of the articles
are of superior merit.
Well, there. Excuse me, did not
intend writing puff for the Ledger, Il
never puff anything, not eren cigar, but
merely to give you the authorship of the
poem you SO much admire, and to ask
you to insert the accompanying article by
Fanny Fern. Gentlemen won't like it, but
never mind them, publish it to oblige the
ladies in general, and your friend in
particular. FANNIE.
"The Woman Question:"
l have been sitting enjoying quiet
laugh all by myself, over pile of news
papers and magazines, in which the '.Wo-
man Question: was aired according to the
differing views of editors and writer's. One
gentleman thinks, that the men take nap
on the sofa, evenings at home, or else leave
it to 60 to naughty places, is because there
are no Madame De Stael's in our midst to
make home attractive. He was, probably,
q bachelor, or he would understand that
when man who has been perplexed and
fretted ill day, finally reaches home, the
last object he wishes to encounter is wide
awake woman Of the Madame De Stael
pattern, propounding her theories on poll
tics, theology and literature. The veriest
idiot who should entertain him by the hour
with tragic accounts Of broken tea-cups,
and saucepans, would be blessing com
pared to her not that he would like that
either not that he would know himself
exactly what he could like in such o case,
except that it should be something diamet-
rically opposite to that, which years ago
he got on his knees to solicit
Another writer asserts that women's
brains are too highly cultivated at the pre-
sent day and that they have lost their
interest in the increase of the census and
that their husbands, not sharing their ap-
athy, hence the disastrous result. ! might
sugg st in answer that this apathy may
have its foundation in the idea 90 fast gain
ing ground-thanks to club-life, and that
which answers to it in a less fashionable
strata Of society-that it is an indignity to
expect fathers Of families to be at home,
save occasionally to sleep, or eat, or to
change their apparel and that, under such
circumstances, women naturally prefer to
be the mother of four children. or none,
than to engineer seventeen or twenty thro'
the perils Of childhood and youth without
assistance, cooperation, or sympathy.
Another writer thinks that women don't
''smile" enough when their husbands
como into the house and many . man
misses having his shirt, or drawers taken
from the bureau and laid on a chair all
ready to jump into, at some particular day
or hour, as he was accustomed, when he
lived with some pattern sister or immacul-
manly intellect, apd makes life the curse it
is to him.
Another asserts that many women have
some female friend who is very objection
able to the husband, in exerting pugilistic
effect on her mind and thathe fees the house
in consequence of this unholy influence !;
not that this very same husband wouldn't
bristle all over at the idea of his wife court
martialing q bachelor or benedict friend,
for the same reason but then it makes a
difference, you know, a man not being q
woman.
Another writer asserts that nobody yet
knows what woman is capable # doing.
have only to reply that the same assertion
cannot be made with regard to men, as the
dwellers in great cities, at least, know that
the majority Of them are capable Of doing
anything, that the devil and opportunity
favor.
It has been a practice for years to father
every stupid joke that travels the news
paper>round on "Paddy"-poor Paddy"
In the same way it seems to me that Tor
evtsy married man now, who proves untrue
to his better nature. his ,c;fe is to be held
responsible. 1t is the old, cowardly excuse
that the 6rst man alive set going, and
which has been travelling round this
weary world ever since. woman that thou
gavest to be with me''-she did thus and
SO; and therefore all the Adams from that
time down, have whimpered, torn their
hair and rnshAd forth To the lnnn. covetad