The New York herald., 1871-05-28
Dscndence OF Masculine BlaBncrs Toward
Womnn.


Woman.
To THE EDITOR OF THE ItERALD:-
In recent article In the HERALD, signed
Frances Rose Mackinley, that lady says the COARSE
ness with which men treat women nowadays in
public indicates a decadence IN manners and feel
ings from that high position OF Difference TO the
female which the former reputation of this
country. Docs 1t not strike you, MIR. Editor,
and every other sensible man that it is
the women who are degeneratlng from that
mOdeSty and refinement OF feeling which
characterized the woman Of our country In
our grandmother's tmes Woman may travel all
over America wthOut an escort II her passport be
modesty anu purity Men are not less chiyalrous
when they meet woman to call forth that feeling.
respect the majority of the women they meet now
adays2 Can they respect the woman vino 80 lar for
gets herself as TO make perfect deformity OF what
God made perfect? Can such women expect respect
from refined, h'gh-toned manY Now, they are the
class OF women that compiain OF, OF meeting insults
sas stages IN ears cars a ana iSS nSse, iaSlss Il
! and If they did not return the stare they
| would not Know It, There very few men, no
spect a modest and weilbred woman. and such
women nave no cause to complain. When a woman
rights at the ballot box and PRESIDENTIAL
chair, think the time has come when men must
equal and Will be respected as such nowadays s In
the days Of old ana man, believe, to be the first
aud nODleSt WORK Oi GOu NJ LUNkf.
The Social Evil Again--'s sBciphcxor" Replies
vigorously TO "Heraid Reader."
To THE EDITOR OF THE HggALD:-
"HERALD Reader,r in your issue OF last sunday.
attempts to reply to my communication OF May &, aud
says "cannot show nine cases out of every hun
dred where females are driven 10 n life OF shame
through necessity VIII she 30 and ask one hun
dred abandoned women who have children to sup
they now leadg II she or any one else Will 60
among tho poor creatures and ascertain she and
they win find that am right in my ststcment-that
they were driven to lead life OF prostitution or
else see their little starve to death, they (the
mOthers) well knowing that men would give i've,
ten and even twenty dollars for a few hours OF
their society, when they would only give five cents
III charity to keep their little ones from starvation.
But some one may say must be mistaken l an
swer, ] am not. | give facts, which are
stubborn things. | know gentleman who is
wealthy, but who viii not give one cent
In charity, even when he knows the OBJ
ject is worthy; and yet know that he goes
frequently 10 certain houses and spends few hours
with young ladies', and invariably gives the fair one
whose society he enjoys twenty-five dollars at every
visit Again she says. "Better death than dshonor"
Would IL be better for that mother 10 end her life
and leave her little ones 10 su1er or lead life OF
better her condition. And again she says There
is plenty OF employment to be obtained IN this city
TO keep every female from the crime OF prostitution
or suicide.r say there Is not. There are 10000
workingwomen In TINS city who receive wages OF
from Two dollars 70 wee dSTs va IS ecn ana
q week rent for furnished room where they can
lay their weary heads ana their little ones at night
and ask, IN the name OF humanity, when woman
earns eight dollars week operating sewing ma
chine nom morning TIL night and pays ve dollars
week for rent OF roonl-how, ask, Is snc going TO
procure food for herself aud children on the balance
Of the eight dollarsf II twenty years At housekee
or four on tn rec dollars week and lead virtuous
life, ! should, MS well as thousands OF Others,
ke to have a5 onc % w ies. er
for the information. Again she asks 'if can find
one OF these Magdalen nes who would be Wiling TO
take q situation In any capacity where labor Is
requireds- &c. ! answer yes. can ma seventy-ive
out OF every hundred who are ready and willing 10
ca can 1 earn living; but ask her. who win give
these poor women that have little ones to care FOR
give one OF them who has young child situation
in her familyY She speaks OF laundresscs cham
6emaas and nurses aa aSss o w G take tSs
position p, ] answer tnat can md hundreds OF
women in this city VINO are now seling tneir Souls
of any OF the situations and do the work assigned
to them to the best OF their ability for the sake OF
home where they could nave good, wholesome Iood
and suitable clothing-many OF them now having
only one meal day and only the clothes that they
have on their back ann wou aress for Change She
also says-"1hcrc cannot be one word spoken IN
defence or In Justification OF such life. 1t
IL out OF choice and nothing eisen ! ask
Does woman Of education ana rehnement
usually enter upon lie OF prostitution
from choice think not, as Know great many
women between the ages or twenty and thirty-nve
VINO have children 10 support VINO privately enter
into secret alliance solely out OF necessity to Keep
could earn enough otherwise to provide for their
little families, would gladly lead virtuous lives,
many OF these poor women Deing memDeIs Oh some
Christian Cnurcn and pass az highly respectable. !
40 not write as one who upholds prostitution; Due
40 ask ana say that those who are guilty OIL TINS very
sin should not cry the oudest against H. but tnat
they should show little more charity true charity,
toward the poor, suffering creatures.
Again, In reference TO she lady VINO was oHereu
twenty dollars week to play the piano In concert
room, she says, "Would II not be more respectable
than to earn II on the reet w aud says,
ssrn. ~, sass s aaas varv l,itlo dierenco