New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-09-11

A Further Eiucidation Of Ellen Storge's
Ideas Upon the Subjecf-Why Amanda
and Her Husband Separated When the
Contract was Tn, and what Became Of
the Baby.
From the woman's Advocate.
Matrimony should not allow one party to
drag the other by the ears of the mind.
With equal rights, limitless marriage would
be more endurable; still, it would be far
preferable with a proper limitation. The
boundary of this limit let sober Judgment
and fair trial determine; but limit there
should be. This would act as salutary
check upon those who feel disposed to cut
rage the feelings or .abridge the rights of
partner: for be it known that the common
law however just, can not reach all cases.
There are many ways in which latent abuse
might prevail, and the world never know it.
In all such eases, though the world or the
law might not know it, the husband and
wife would to their sorrow; and one party
could not put these wrongs upon the other
without knowing day of reckoning must
come when the injured party can legally
say, Il have endured this long enough at
your hands-go your way and | will go
mine Where love exists this thought
will restrain: where it exists not the
sooner that they separate the better for
respect is worse than mockery-it is a liv-
ing death-a prolonged murder. But
what manner of person can this be, who
thus invadcs the sanctity of our divine
right to rule our wives! Pcradyenture she
may be yincgariaced old maid. to whom
the unattalnable grapes are sour! Flo
verify Il husband can do no wrong" Not
quite so fast, o we of the immaculate gen
der. During fourteen years she has been
the wife of one husband. who happily coin
cides exactly with her views Of wOmans
rights, and has for years. A sincere desire
to aid. reform, and a design to improve the
constitution for those vino are yet to try it
by experience. and at the same time to con-
fer moral benefit upon those already mar
red. is her only motive. Limited marriage
does not necessarily imply the total separa-
ton. every three years, of those who love
and try to make each other happy.
Husband: Well, my dear Amanda, the
termination of the three years of our marital
contract draws near apace. Asst was l who
wooed and Won your young and trusting
heart three years ago perhaps 1t Is appro-
pirate that | should introduce the subject
now. Three years are nearly gone, and how
short the time has seemed! During that
time we have had ample opportunity to be
come thoroughly acquainted with each
other. One year ago our little Edgar was
born. BY our agreement he is yours. To
You he is indebted for his birth. and | am
convinced that you have the best claim upon
him. In our business matters We have
prospered and your equal share of our
gains will enable you to feel entirely free to
exercise your choice as to your future course
of action. For my part, l am in favor OF
renewing our copartnership.
Witc-DearA delbert, the last three years
have. indeed been eventful years to me.
l now know something about married life.
While your treatment OF me has been al
or nearly all that could have desired |
would like to defer the renewal of our con
tract for about one year, for the purpose OF
advancing my education. The facilities tor
the education of women have been Ina te
rally increased since we were married. and
am not satisfied with the neagrc intorma-
ton obtainable at that time. What think
you of my proposition! AS for our Edgar,
by our compact. you will be his optional
custodian. as l am for non-reuewal at pres
ent; but will make this proposition rela-
tive to him. He is now but one year old,
and he might prove more OF a care to YOU
than he would to me. because | have been
in the habit of looking after his personal
wants. so. II agreeable to You, | am Will
ing to clothe him and bear his contingent
expenses if you will contribute the allow
ance for his board during the year. What
say you!
4
cuandary. Here is human being. equal
with himself in all save physical strength,
and that the law restraints. She has desires
and aSpiTa tionS, as well as himself. Under
the old order of things. he might have
p0oll-poohed at her Wishes but it is not so
new. Sle has attained that legal and
moral prestige necessary TO enable her. not
to dictate the terms upon which the CO.
partnership of marriage may or may not
IN II hat hprs.if
fellowbeing, but to tearlesslv express
her wishes. with the assurance that
they can not be disregarted OF treated
with contumely. Adelbcrt is now making the
practical discovery that married women have
rights which husbands are bound tby self
interest t. respect" Amanda has been a
dutitui wife: she may lacl. somewhat III ed
uc;tion. and he feels a sort Of tacit consent
to the business of her proposition. But he
seems to lack that feeling of marital self
abnegation necessary to a hearty consent to
her wishes Probably his phioprogcnitite-
ness may have something to do with the
mattel-possibly not. At all events. the
chances are that he will kindly suggest to
Amanda his entire readiness in seconding
her wishes to attend college ny procuring
contiguous residence. other facilities, etc,
provided that she. upon her part. is willing
10 ''veteranizc, as our Union soldiers used
to say during the late ''unpleasautne>s.
ELLEN STORGE.
Louisville. Kentucky.
1t is said that the Empress Eugene never
blushed before a public assembly but once.
1t was during visit to the Isle OF Wight.
whittier she went to meet the queen. The
royal pair, attended by a company of dis
tinguisheti ladies and gentlemen. went one
morning to an institution of learning (Which
had been established for the poor by her
most gracious majesty, and in which she
took great INTEREST,", for the purpose of hear
ING an examination of the scholars. In
course of the exercises, an urchin, seated
upon one OF the nearest benches. most
irreverently burst into tears, at which the
visitor, calling the youthful afflicted to her.
demanded to know the reason Cor such an
unmannerly outbreak. The boy approached,
daubing his eyes with the dirt from one
hand and clutching a slate in the other.
which he held up before the eyes OF the
mistress. saying. Please. marin, AIRY
Larlin writ ELI on my slate with nail, and
/ cant rub it out" Over such a Sush Of
Juvenile profanity. the wicked lords and
ladies present. laughed heartily, but the
gentle empress of the French piously
| blushed and " sloped.'