North Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1867-current, 1869-06-09
Won, ans wIgllts.

woman's WIghts.
A hackey ed title, yet the only impress
sive one can give to these few lines. |
have. in using it, no reference to those So
called rights" which some womer are so
earnestly insisting upon /; of the merits of
their case do not feel myself capable of
judging.
We have "rights' enough, in one point
of view. as it is. We claim, and no one
gainsays us, the utmost Difference and con-
sideraton Of the sterner sex. Our very
womanhood much as some of US may and
do rebel against its re trictons, is yet our
strength. A truly womanly w"m,n has
more power, unconsci"usly to herself, over
the men connected with her, than they
would he willing to grant to those Of their
own sex. And which sex las really most
influence in the world? What would men
be without the gentle companionA ips Of
mother, wife, sister or daughter? Those
four words embrace our dearest, hottest
rights.
As. mother, the nobl st and greatest
men have, in all ages Of the world. deriv
cd Their hest qualities from their mothers
no truly great man ever sprang from a
bad mother and to which parent is most
reverence, most affection .-ivan, save to
her who bore us? Who train up the
monarchs, the warriors, the statesmen of
!. the world? need not ask the question:
the truest royalty on earth is comprised in
the dominion of wife and mnther-the
truest happiness is found in our realm, the
home
But of those rights, which all acknowl>
edge, it was not my purpose to speak.
The rights claim are these-education
and permission to use our talents. BE
cause we have gift shall we hide t in
napkin? Ii we can use the pen. shall We
be restricted to the needle? Give US the
same advantages in learning that men
have, and you will find that in raising our
standard you have elevated your own. If
woman loves literature, she is denomina
ted a "bIue." l circumstances have left
her with no male relative to depend upon.
and she has moral courage enough to act
for herself, the cry ''strOng minded is
raised. Is this just--is it generous? !?
You would tie our hands, and bid us sit in
forced inaction. while often we would long
to be "up and doing
Our greatest charms. modesty and re
fnement. are not inconsistent with the
1'rights'' ask for my sisters. ask them,
for it is in heir hands, to use their minds,
for there, at least, we are equal to man.
Give us the same advantages, and we will
more than equal him. Our education is
supposed to be complete at seventeen or
eighteen, while his goes on for five or six
years longer. Give US the same incentives
to study-give US the same advantages,
and the home will possess charms that will
detain men there. Female conversation
will cease to he the vapid. unmeanins
thing it too often is; there will he few r
discontented women, if each one fully de-
termines to assert her rights and use the
IlaieHtS uou mas given HeT.
But while claim for woman the right
to use her powers, l do not wish her to
forget those "rights'' which she now pos
,sesses-the right to he mans consoler and
helper; to do good to he gentle, refined.
and modest to be the chief charmer OF
home, doing her duty in all things; if she
have talents. using them, not neSlecting
her home duties; ir a word, what she
finds to do, doing it with her might.
And it is woman's right to he good, pi
Gus, and faithful constant, though her
very constancy sometimes turns 10 curse;
patient and torgiviny; gifted with fort.tude
and endurance-men admit our superior
ity in these points-and most sacred righ,
of all, through a WON IN of the Saviour
came into the world; women never denied
Him; women were with him at the cross
and at the grave and tn woman. as moth,
er, is confdsd the duty of first planting
che seeds of religion in the mind ol
youth.
Stand up for your rights. my sisters
Be pure yoarselves, and by that very pur
ity you shall he strong. Insist that you
are better than the other half of mankind
prove to them that you are, and through
you, they will become better. firmly
believe that it rests with as to Christianize
and civilize the world I'D the more We
endeavor to be good and do right, the
more rapidly will that great desideratum
be attained. Let the name woman be
synonym for all that is Of ''good report.
Then, and not till then, shall we have at.
tanned the full measure of our '.rights."
ELLIS LEE.