New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-05-17
THE WAR OF THE WOMEN
TEE STRIFE BREAKS OUT ANEW.
HOMAGE TO vAsHTI.

HOMAGE TO vASIITI.
II was n time OF feasting at the court
OF King Ahasuerus, and the days,
Filed with the merry sound OF revelry,
The harp, the dance, the song, sped lightly on
The palace walls were gorgeous In their robes
OF royal spendor-haneings rich and rare ,orn
Brought from the looms of Tyre-sweeping DOWN
Their floods of purple on the marble hoors,
And held by rings of silver and OF gold
To stately columns Od0rs filled the ar
or costly spices brought from midas shores,
And sweetest music foated on the breeze
To greet the senses of the Persian King,
All. as they drank the wine IRON golden urhs'
Sang e. the honor of their royal host,
The majesty and glory of his reign. ,o - s,ore
His mighty Kingdoms stretched from shore ~ s0h''
From Ethiopia iungles. TO the fair .u.a,tb
And sca.kssed India, with its boundless Woaith'
Until AhasueTuS's heart grew proud 10. ,ooro
And longcd to show his c0urtiers someWtat iuoio
To fred the fire OF their tumultuons prslse. o,oo,
And then he thought him of his oeanto c queen
For She was Young, and " fair 60 look spon;, IL
..Trj,c in he Oueeni he cried, land by the gc9s
TN show you beauty, bright beyond ne stars
such as has lived not in your widest dreams,
NV fair 0ncen. Vashti. Ho! we chamberlains'
See tina, She be arrayed in splendid robes SoeS,
And phce the royal crown upon heT heau
A hush fell on the noisy jewellers
OF waiting expectation, and all eyes
Were turned 18th eager interest 50 the door, ,.o,
But when they looked u see the proud younc Qu0o"
ony her miIl-ons stood before TIE King,
Aud told her anSwer 10 the GREATNESS throns,
Queen Vasllt will not heed the kinSs cob.iiiahu'
She will not come before the idle host
OF drunken reVelers." All eyes we're turheu
In fearful silence on the huneled King;
:
They rcds the doom OF NaSbtl'
To all lands
In his drminions went the mandate forth
From Rcpceforth shall the husbands all bear RUE
And wives shall hencefOrth honor and obey
oncen rJashti shall be called no longer Queen,
And She shall come before the King 20 more
Thus hy tine stern, fixed law, which lltercth not,
OF Modes and PeTsians, man deeToed MS Il6ht
To IL Wcr absolute, and Persian men
Ger Persian women held supreme command.
Honor t. Vashtil who, when question came
winch she should keep, her high and royal state
As honOred queen, or her pure Womahhoou
Held % the latter Thus her story ends
But echoes down through memory haunted years
through all the Yesterdays, until to-day,
With honor u the noble Persian queen.
And now. to-day another question comes,
O. women Of the nineteenth century
Which will We havc--a place among the men
In courts, in Congress halls, and noisy crowds
Where even woniiins name sbo , u. ., yer eoil'
A voice above the tossing, restless tlGe
Which surCcs toward the polls, ana ali the homes
Made darker by your aDsenccf
Or will We keep
Your ever pure and precious womanh0od,
The tender love of husband and of child,
The God-apppintcd right TO mold and tram
The future men and heroes OF the land!
q women OF the nation! Pause and think
Why hahhic We OF wrongs ana injured rgIls.
God pity women who have wrongs indeed,
And We may pity and may help them too;
But giving them the ballot, aud the work
Which men should do viii never help then wrongs
Or at cost too fearful. aud too er' A.
Yes. trials are the lot Of all mankind,
And men as well as women, have Their wrongs
Which al their right u vote can never h"Ip'
Then through the lights and shades Of future years
Let woman work with high and noble aim
Not to be Presidents and Priests, ana Kings,
But trucr women. Then the day will come
When men shall cease 10 scott and rdlcule,
And honor woman as the better half
Whom God appoints To lead his hayward sons
NCtc- York, May . 1870 FAITH fARNiAh'