The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1871-03-23
Hsboroug Hghand oouny ohio Thnrsday, March g. 81
[For the News
A LRdy's Opinions on WOman's
-ns Rights.
RURAL HoME, March, 1871

LhOI sue AeNHs
A Lady's Opinions on WOman's
Rights.
RURAL HoME, March, 1871.
Mr.. BoARDMAN;-Permitm me to express
my opinions on Woman's Rights in your
columns, as the rights of woman has be-
come one Of the prominent themes of the
day. Everywhere it is discussed.
Some of the strong-minded have arisen
and made an effort to throw of the shackles
which they assert have so long prevented
woman from taking an active part in the
drama Of life. Now believe the sphere of
woman to be peculiarly her own, and dis
tinct from that of man. The more wo-
manly a woman is, the more is her infu-
ence felt. The moment she shows herself
manly, that moment she fails to effect the
purest and hOliest results of character.
Her life is of the affections-not in its
narrowest sense, Of selfish and instructive
attachments, but where it embraces in the
widest sense, everything, animate and in
animate, worthy of being loved. Therein lies
her strength, not her weakness.
Now 1 feel a repugnance to the idea of
woman appearing in public places, at con-
ventions, promiscuous assemblies, assert
ing her rights, as if she had not more now
than she knows how to use. Does not
Scripture teach her that it is a shame for
woman to speak in high places? Is she
following the dictates of that blessed book :
Let her do her duty at home, and en-
tighten others by the light Of her own ex-
ample. That will conduos more to her
happiness than raising a cry about the
poor, oppressed sufferers, who Il SUPPOSED
she thinks have not spirit enough to de-
fend their own side of the question. For
my own part feel quite satisfied with
matters as they are. am persuaded that
If we make good use of our means of edu-
cation and usefulness, enough is placed
within our power, and we will leave it to
the strong-minded to sigh for civic honors,
or contend with the plowmen and hostlers
whether Nature designed US to share their
vocatlons and pleasures.
1 believe that every girl born into the
world has right to the education, moral,
physical, intellectual and affectional, which
shall make her ia perfect woman, nobly
planned, to warn, to comfort and com
mand." This step must be taken by wo-
man, each in her own home. Sow the seed
there that shall send abroad into the world
characters that will bear the fruit of such
culture. Will Woman's Rights Conven-
tions teach this? Most assuredly not. /
believe one living, acting example of wo-
manly character, at home, will do more
than all the strong-minded, haranguing in
public. Let woman convince man by her
daily life that she is worthy to be his com
paniOn and co-worker in all great and
good things.
Woman has rights without overstepping
the boundary of her sphere. She has a
right to tap the dram-seller's barrels and
cause a food to deluge the streets. She
has a right to sue the dram-seller for de-
stroying her happiness, and recover dam
ages. She has right to go into any up
or downtown saloon or bar, and lead her
deleotable Benedick by tl0eak of the nose
and lock him up, until he confesses and
will promise never, neUeT, to take the cup
to his lips. If he don't keep his promise,
she should thrash him soundly and leave
him to get his own bread and butter.
don't like "Gail Hamilton's" compari-
son Of the Lecturess and the woman who
works. 1t is to be deplored that women
can't wash, iron, bake and ten thousand
other things, with frizzed hair, and rouged
cheeks, and lily white faces, while the Lee
turess is so tastefully adorned and attired
with all artistic grace for the public eye to
feast upon. All, art is vain, and ye poor,
deluded men had better cOIOnize and send
to Africa or some other cline, all these
strong minded women in the land, rather
than put them in power. Then, when she
sees her mistake, she will acknowledge
that in her short-sighted ambition to share
the empire of her brother, she has lost a
fairer and sweetsr one of her own.
Ladies'! let us, as American women, cul-
tivate the virtues, the knowledge, the ac-
complishments, which will influence vir-
tue and inspire the other sex to do the
work of the world to the glory Of God.
Then the woman will truly shine forth as
the glory of the man.
Young gentleman, are you waiting on
strong-minded young ladyH would say,
success to you! May she lead you pen
ny dog-trot through life.
Mr.. Editor, If any of the advocates for
woman's Rights take up the cudgels in
their behalf, would say to them to bear
in mind that am not one of the strong
minded, neither given to speaking or writ
ing-this being my drst attempt. Don't
view me with critics eye, but pass my
by" A LADY.