The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1872-12-07
THE WYOMINGEXPERIMENT ON THE
WOMAN'S QUESTION.

Some of the late papers give us a
glowing account of the successful work
ings Of woman's right of suffrage in
Wyoming. The ladies are said to Offer
up a prayer and then go to the polls OF
the jury box. So powerful has been
their example that prayer is now an es-
tablished custom at the opening of Court
among the Wyomingites, and the ballot
box is purified and made decentby their
refining influence.
Grog shops and gambling saloons
which used to swallow up naughty hus-
bands are nearly exterminated from this
Arcadian locality. Crime is almost I'M
heard of, and nothing insults a Wyo-
ming man more grossly than to inferthat
his wife had not perfect freedom of opin-
ion even if his own was antagOnistic. If
he thinks it more comfortable to drink
hot coffee, and she prefers it cold, he
would scorn to expect her to heat it for
him. He does it himself or knuckles to
the cold beverage. It amuses us to see
the timidity with which the Press is be-
ginning to handle the delicate ques-
tion." Even five years ago the results
of this Wyoming experiment would have
been Investigated, sifted from false evil
dence and hooted at as furnishing any
decisive proof of the benefits of female
suffrage. The testimony comes princi-
pally from advocates Of woman's rights,
or from the "shriekers themselves"
Whether our confreres are afraid of
the sharp and ready claws which lurk
under the pate de ~UelourS, whether they
are really perplexed by the subtle intui-
tions, and peculiar idiosyncracies which
the oppressed sex "hurL like Parthian
arrows from some untenable position, or
whether they are sick and disgusted with
the whole "tintamarre it is hard to say.
They slip quietly and n~oiselessly over
the ground like men moving over a hill
infested by hornets'enests. To be sure,
when the Woodruff becomestoo shame
less, she is attacked on the score of in
decency-when Mrs. Stanton, or that
ilk, are too illogical, some n givesthem
a gentle nip, but upon the whole, the
Question" is all on one side. The An
swer remains mute.
The progress of ideas has conceded to
woman a wider field of labor. Her
sphere ofindustrial occupations nowem-
braces every thing to which she has any
legitimate claims. But like the daugh-
tiers of the Horseleech, her cry is still
"Give, give" ......
Half the lecturers in the United States
now belong to the female sex, and out
of a dozen there is probably not one who
rises above mediocrity. There aremany
employments appropriate which
women could fill as well if not better.
They make excellent saleswomen, and
the best librarian in the United States is
a woman. They do admirably in post
offices, and as Journalists their useful
ness is being generally recognized. Some
branches Of the medical science they
have mastered to their own honor, but
we laugh in III sleeve at the ideal pic
ture of a woman who is to be as learned
as Grotius, and yet as tender as the
Madonna San SistO." -..s
There are duties in the world which
somewhat conflict with the new claims
Theyar T as much at variance
with the claims of the ballot box as the
nursing of an infant with the exigencies
of a political crisis. Whether domestic
virtues will be encouraged by the alb
scence of our wives, daughters, or sis
ters on e~lectioneering expeditions or
conventions, we fear to say. Whether
children will grow up to be better men
and women because their mothers are
leading spirits on abstract questions Of
which ignore the highest duties of
we will leave the Wyoming
second generation to answer. s
Perhaps nature is a grand humbug,
and has been one from the creation. It
may be that when the old race of moth
ers and wives die out, we may find SUI
perior charms in a fair opponent at the
polls, or the author of treatise on atoms,
who yet is ignorantof thefirstprinciples
of combining these atoms in cookery.
Homes and domestic life win be efete
superstitions, for who on earth will keep
the one, or make the other?
We advise all %grulnbling old bachelors
to 60 to Wyoming and give us the result
of their experiences. They haven't the
most exalted opinion Of the fair sex in
the first place, and we would like to e
any throw dust in their eyes where
the perfectibility of lovely woman is
concerned. Even if matters work as is
represented, we think they would leave
there complacent and congratulating
themselves on their eelibacy.
SECRETARY OF sTATE.-The Supreme
Court of this State have decided that
Hon. Geo. E. BoYee, who was suspended