Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1869-05-22
FAIR PLAY.

EDITOR OF THE SrAR-D,ar Sir.-Dd YOU
ever see q big boy tramplins down a Little oae,
without O sense some VI here under the left side
Of your vest that IL was an un iust proceeding
on the part Of the big fellow, aud a queer une.
ling at yeur fingers erds TO catch hln by
somewhere, and give him a good shaking,
What If the little one has brought IL ON him.
self by a willful persistence IN making mouths
and doubling fists, your sympathies are lust as
vital, because t is not natural to like TO see the
strong overpowerpng the weak. Now doesn't
il strike your sense of justice tina, for the pub
lie press 10 follow and persecute one poor little
the meaner the attack is rather small busi-
nessl know that editors are the best people in
the world. and that mistakes will happen even
in well regulated newspapers, and CONFESS
that nave felt almost as mean as n had had
some anticipation IN the affair. " hen read
the articles In last weeks papers on Dr. Mary
Walker. No matter what tAe woman wears,
or how turbulent she has been made by con-
stantly fighting with public opinion, trout BILE
and turmoil, che is still a woman, ostrscised
by majority OF her sex-called a monstrosity
approvingly and un biushingly al the indecsn-
oies Of the Gan Can. and give their money
freely 10 support II, and say AZ is mean, un-
manly and degrading.
DIR. Mary Walker may be noisy. ou,-s IN.
petoous, and bad tempered, but she has none
OF the vices OF many Of those who hound and
persecute her. She neither smokes. chews.
drinks whiskey, drives fast horses, visits houses
OF questionable reputation, or counter an cas
public performances that are sabyersiye TO
good morals. In all these things, those who de-
rlde her, must certainly concede that she is not
manly. She wears dress that subjects her 70
ridicule, but am fully persuaded that in do
ing so, she dares public opinion from a sense OF
tne hleheet DUTY. No woman likes to b. sing
ular, and II is not pleasant TO be follow wed py a
mob. / argue that II shows extraordinary
strength OF character to bear constant contempt
ana insult Tor the sake OF principle. Ii she
finds that her health is improved by dis pensing
with yards upon yards OF fauguing cloth TO bind
upon the muscles and TO drag IN the mud, why
nobody but the dealers in dry goods ought TO
care for that. am very certain that IL the En-
press Eugenie. or the courtezans OF Paris, had
set the fashion of trowsers and frock coats for
America at once. Instead Of that the papers
cody announce that the Empress of the French
give fifty tkousdad francs for q new spring dress,
n ana forthwith all .noo and shoddy dom set
about finding the most extravagant goods and
styles, making themselves friehts with their
loaded be.panniered bodies, and nobody says q
think it is time that these all. natured thrus,s
a. Dr. Mary Walker were done with The
woman has been Of some service to our coun.
try She has left home and kindred, and In
soldier has been aided by her, " hen other help
was impossible to be obtained. We have
known OF instances where she has freely part
ed with all the means she possessed to some
poor needy boy In blue, and is she to be held
up TO scorn and ridicule for that II she
sported cigars, was hal.fellow- well-met IN
uhioIo sdIOOnS, IIeQuente0 0dr.rOOms, there
would be some reason in attacking her; but
o tefnpore, mores she asks for an ONCE, and
persists In asking, as If there were not forty
thousand male bipeds begging upon their mar.
for the same boon
One woman, whom might mention is eriey-
eusly outraged If even the name Of DR. W alker
Is spoken, nor can she fnd language strong
enough to denounce her; but that same woman
Is such an enemy TO our country that / think
she would tear the flag into shreds If she dared
a 81 "a ho Auovu srno ~
fair 10 continue there, while DR. Walker, who
mas tasted the horrors OF a rebel prison. is
yeered at because she persists in asking for a
ike position. II Dr. Walker were my worst
enemy i would say, let justice be done
should like to see the woman who would re.
s,gn because she was put IN the same room;
mum. And no right-minded sensible man would
mpugn Dr. walkers motives simply on ac-
We all know what the vulgar public taste
demands. People don't like TO speak out about
I; but our sons, our brothers. our fathers and
some crses our granofatners, make no demur
AT sights tnat ought to drive them in confusion
TO their homes. Decency and modesty are out.
ragged In all our cities, at places Of public
amusement:ard while men feast upon yuI.
garltles, they ought, for shame's sake. TO let Dr.
Mary Walker alone. Let her be what else che
may, she has hatred for whatever is opposed
to virtue, and if her heart ever ached as mine
does at sight Of the overloaded bodies and
ton, all can say is that pity her. for she has
an additional burden to bear
i believe have written all dare write on
this subject. III were . man i would defend
every woman who had the Independence TO be
singular, from conscientious motives; in that, at
least would lay claim to the boasted ckiralry
of the sex.
Yours, in good will, honest speaking, and
fair play, A woMAN.
- Perhaps it will be but justice fer me to
say that DR.. Mary walker knows nothing of
this article. l have seen her but once in the
streets OF Washington, and once at public |
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