The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1871-12-02
Lecture on Free Love.

that w 0ulQ Q0b Do OOuVuCous
Says the New York Tribune of No
vember 21st:
Free Love never had a holder adj
vOcate than Mrs. Victoria Woodruff
proved herself to be last evening at
Steinway Hall, in her lecture on the
+" Principles of Social Freedom The
announcement that she would speak
drew together a crowd such as Stein
way Hall probably never before con-
tained-a crowd which filled the hall
completely, seats, aisles and galleries,
for the name of Victoria Woodruff, as
ISOLATED as it is with all that is startl-
ing in the sphere of social ideas, was
guaranty that the doubtful intellectu-
al food sought by many among the
hundreds who heard her last night,
would certainly be forthcoming. Flam-
ing placards, cunninglya devised and
filed with broad terms to catch the
prurient eye, also contributed largely
to the number of the audience. The
private box on the right of the stage
was occupied by Tennie c. Clafiin and
other friends or relatives of the lectu
rer, and the one ON the left by Mrs.
BROKER, of Brooklyn, sister of Mrs.
Woodruff, and a firm disbeliever in
the latter's revolutionary theories
and several of her friends. Stephen
Pearl Andrews lowered about the foot
of the stage, following the speakers
words in the manuscript of her speech
which he held in his hand. The adj
vent of Theodore Tilton and Mrs.
Woodruff, who received a parting
"Now, Viccy, be calm" from her sis
ter Tennie, produced storm of ap-
plause.
The lecturer began with a rather
tedious sketch of the progress of in
dividual freedom, the battle for which
began in the sixteenth century. Com
ing down to the present, she at once
launched into her particular subject
with the pertinent inquiry, "Of what
does marriage consist? It is admitted
to be union of the opposites in sex,
but is it a principle of nature outside
of all law, or is it law outside of all
nature Where is the point before
reaching which it is not marriage, and
after reaching which it is marriage ~
Since law cannot change what nature
has already determined, she commended
that it had nothing to do with mar
riage any more than with love itself.
The individual affairs of two persons
are not the subject of interference by
any third party, and if one of them
chooses to separate no power outside
of the two ought to prevent. Suppose
q separation is desired because one of
the two loves and is loved elsewhere.
If the union be maintained by force.
at least two of them, probably all
three, are unhappy but if they sepa-
rate, only one is rendered unhappy.
So it the greatest good of the greatest
number is to rule, separation is legiti-
mate and desirable. 1t is better to
break bad bargain than to keep it.
She wished marriage laws would be
abr0gated O-mOrrOw-therew would be
10 chaos, but all would turn into har-
meny and order. Thousands of mar
riages now were but legalized prosti-
tuition thousands of poor, unresisting
wives are yearly murdered, and stand
in the spirit-life, looking down upon
the sickly haf-made-up children left
behind, imploring humanity to correct
the abuses which now defile it. She
asserted positively that all which is
good and commendable now existing
would continue if all marriage laws
were repealed tomorrow.
Applause followed this bold decla-
ration, but it was instantly succeeded
by perfect-tempest of Kisses from all
parts of the house. The applause
again came out, and again the misses
c0ntended for the mastery. A num-
ber arose and left the hall. Mrs. Wood
hull advanced quickly to the extreme
front of the platform, and called te
those who Kissed to step up on the
platform. Suddenly the pleasant voice
of Mrs. Brooker, who sat in private
box on the left, came out clearly as the
lady herself arose and fronted the au-
dience, despite the circumstances oi
her friends, who feared imprudence in
her words.
"May / speak to herq" she said
Then addressing the lecturer, Would
you like to come into this world with
out knowing who your father or mo-
ther was
Shouts of appreciation greeted this
sally, when Mrs. Woodruff said, loud.
", q There are thousands of noble meI
and women in the world to-day who
never knew who their father was
She proceeded vehemently with hel
lecture, giving no chance for the lady
in the box to interrupt her again. The
latter still kept her place, although
alone in the box, for her friends rap
idly deserted her, and several times
essayed to speak. Mrs. Woodruff an
grilY shouted out her sentences unit
she was fairly compelled to pause by
the boisterous demand from the audi
enee for speech from her opponent
A policeman was summoned, and b,
attempted in vain to induce Mrs
Brooker to leave the box.