The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-02-14

~ / made q craze mistake IN my last az
,i,lc, and disturbed the equanimity of one
ii your readers; hope that no old woman
will take exception to this article, when |
spca}; Of
erRoNG-MINpED WOMEN IN FLORIDA.
met several of thcsc-mostly old maids
from the northern StateS-and had much
amusement discussing with them the ques-
ton Of woman's rights and wrongs. The
chief wrong which they felt was that they
had no husbands, although this they took
care not to mention. They said that they
were slaves, that men had kept them out of
;hcir rights, were afraid to trust them with
power to vote, hold office, sit on jurics, and
become Legislators, governors, &c, &c.
They were so busy with their arguments as
10 neglect their persons; and very vehe-
Iocn,ly and passionately asserted and de-
muuucd, and supposed that they were ar
guins With smooth tongue and rather
,rmplcd hair they denounced the tyranny
OF man over the sex, which they would not
allow me to call the weaker.
There was one old maid in particular who
afforded me infinite amusement. She wanted
to vote and serve on juries, being very much
opposed to the death punishment. told
her that / was perfectly willing to abolish
punishment by death if she would only
agree first to abolish murder, arson, and
rape. She seemed to think, however, that
the abolition of hanging would, in some
unknown way, prevent crime. L suppose
she thought that men commit murder for
the pleasure Of being hanged. As she pro-
fesscd to be very religious, | quoted the
Bible and spoke of the law of God given to
Noah and Moses; but found that she took
the New England view, and abolished them
both. She evidently thought that the COM
manl Thou shalt not kill " only referred
TO the execution Of criminals. Ii the muir
icrers would only set the example, | am
perfectly willing to abolish the law of exc
cutions, but not until then. She was wiser
than Solomon.
As she was willing and anxious to vote
and serve on juries, asked her if she was
willing 10 perform every other part of O
citizcn's duty, to serve in the militia and
take her place in the ranks of battle. To
this she demurrcd it was not necessary,
she said, for woman to 90 to war she
fell back on female rights as men under
stand them. | drew picture of her with
musket, on march, and told her of war
Us = Hdu lcll IL, uIllll Sic ueCalnc u!snuSteu,
and changed the subject. Her strong card
however, was that negroes were allowed to
vote, and women were thus considered in
ierior to negroes. And, again, that women
should take part in political strife in order
20 purify it .; that women were better than
men, and would cause better officers 10 be
elected. She could not be made to see that
2stead of purifying politics, politics would
be apt 10 pollute woman.
Finally, told her that politics was really
4 muddy pool, rendered more foul lately by
she addition OF large black element, and
asked her how much pure water you should
pour into mud-puddle to render it clear.
She became disguised with me, because l
was SO absurd.
| had never been introduced to her, but
heard that she was an old maid; so went
in strongly on woman's true position and
Office in life. Pretending 10 believe her
true woman, and therefore married and
mother, / spoke Of her duties to her hus-
land and children, caring for the one and
nursing AMI cherishiag the other, SO that
size would bare 10 time for politics, juries,