Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1870-02-10
For the Gallipolis Journal.
"HoME, Feb. A, 1870.

Mr. NAsH:-I have just finished
looking over the late Journal, an6
reading your editorial on "killine
time" and really the perusal has lef'
me in rather an unpleasant frame ol
mind; and to be honest, ! may as
well tell you that | think you did
onr sex q gross injustice in making
such statements, as your article con.
tains 1t appears to me they are
statements founded, rather in the
! brain of some stole old bachelor than
/ ia the unyarnished truth. which close
observation would teach. While il
is a lamentable truth, and one l free
ly admit, that there are many unhap-
py, uncongenisl liresides--desecra-
ting to the very name of home
where strife, discord, ard contention
prevail, and peace, love and harmO-
ny are unknown. / have yet to be
convinced that in more than taco-tkirds
Of such cases the blame falls upon The
mother, vife or sister. Doubtless
in many instances they are in
fault, and / am willing they should
receive their just share of ceusure,
but don't ''rOb Peter to pay Panl, y
and do "qige tie deHl his dae. +"
Surely, in trying to excuse the reck-
lessness and prohigacy of your own
sex. yon have exaggerated or over
drawn the week propensities Of my
own. II is to be regretted that men,
and women in general are not more
ready 70 accept life as it is-people
as they find them--make the most of
bad bargains-the best of the inevi-
table, and altogether glide smoothly
and tremendously along life's jour
ney, avoiding jars, discord, or any I'M
pleasant scenes. Then might their
homes become places where at least
peace, and, contentme ent mi ght dwell,
and the inmates persue the stady or
pursuit. best adapted to promote the
happiness of each, unmolested by in
terruptions or hinderances. But
since al the poor, frail, fallen family
of humanity are not possess ed of
snch powers of will as to control
self, it certainly becomes the duty of
the strong to help and encourage the
weak to rise above such petty mean
ness, rather than drive them to fur.
ther madness byselling themselves
to the devil in engaging in love and
debasing wickedness throwing the
responsibility on some body else's
shoulder and excuse themselves on
the plea of ''killing time" If men
of intellect possess such poor dis
eliminating power, and will blindly
rush ahead and marry some pretty,
painted, brainless, doll-faced crea
ture, they should expect to reap the
fruits of their folly; but they certain
ly are none the less responsible for
the way in which they employ their
own time and talents. When l hear
of t. person engaging ia sinful amuse-
ments and calling it "killing time"
conclude at once something is
wrong, either physically, morally, or
intellectually with the man himself;
whether his home be pleasant or 9th
erwise. | agree it is easier sailing
when every thing is favorable and
We meet encouragement, and smiles
of approval at every step; but after
all it is by sailing against the tide
that our real strength and powers
OF endurance are tested. | have my
opinion of the man who marries the
lady of his own choosing, and then
goes loaling about street corners,
prating about home discomfort, and
filling the ears of the timid old bach
elors with the story OF his wrongs.
But my note is growing lengthy, and
l will close simply requesting you to
shift your standpoint, and give rs q
glance of the other side Of the ques
ton. If the fair sex are wholely re
sponsible for the "killing of time"
it is high time they were being ava
kened and tie poor men receiving the
sympathy they so richly deserve.
Yours, &c, f-s
LOTTIE LAWSON.