The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1873-11-14

ll1E BALlOl.
That noble chompion of progress and
humanity, John Stuart Mill, briefly and
truly summed up the rights of woman
when he wrote: "To prove woman's
unfitness, it is not sufficient to main
tain that women on the average are
less gifted than men on the average, or
that smaller number of women than
OF men are fit for occupations and func-
tions of the highest intellectual charac-
ter. It is necessary TO maintain that no
women are at all fit for them, and that
the most eminent women are inferior IN
mental faculties to the most mediocre OF
the men on whom those functions at
present devOlve." A talented lady
writes: perhaps the majority OF
married women are Indifferent to polit-
ical power, because they know that II
cannot assure them the simple personal
rights that depend wholly upon the
large good nature and good sense of the
two individuals bearing the same yoke )
and the hard and selfish woman IS not
made whit more tender because OF the
political power her husband wieldsi the
/ harsh and arbitrary will of man can
never chrnge to soft and lovely fiexi-
bility at the fiutter of n ballot in the
] u
doutless srOuld remove legal inequali-
ties; and l cannot better express my
sentiments than by quoting the follow
! ing from +. B. Foote, author of "Plain
/ Home Talk, and Medical Common
! Sense" book which, however plain it
! treats upon subjects of vital importance
/ to both sexes, ought TO be read by every
l family in the Union.
! In treating upon the health i'm con-
nectiOn with the degradation of women
OF past ages with rights withheld, he
says: "But let no man who suddenly
awakens TO this Injustice, suppose, in
his arrogance, that he can give woman
her rights. The very fact that men
talk of allowing women this or that
! liberty, is evidence in itself that author
| ity has been unsuTped. AS well
might a pickpOcket talk of giving a
portmonnaie to somebody from whom
| he had clandestinely filched IL. / tell
YOU reader, we men have no rights to
give to woman; she possesses naturally
| the same rights that we do. If she does
not enjoy them, some one is a rObber.
Who is the theft? Let him make full res
titution with the full understanding that
he is entitled to neither reward nor
thanks" More truthful and manly
sentiments never emanated from the
mind Of man; and so long as / am en-
titled to freeman's right to vote and
WELD pen, it shall be in defense Of the
weaker and better portion of crea-
ton"
Although, as yet, our cause is unpop-
ular with the masses, still, building
upon the eternal principles of truth and
justice, aided by some of the best minds
- l., = 10 a -
when right shall come uppermost, and
ultimate success crown our efforts.
Meantime, let us ever bear in mind that
ITO side with truth is noble when we share her
wretched crust,
Ere her cause bring fame and profit and 'tis
prosperous 10 be just;
Then IL Is the brave man chooses while the
coward stands aside,
Doubling in his abject spirit, TIL his Lord is
crucined,
they had denied
l herewith forward for publication a
! selected poem, entitled
"HER SPHERE"
Lines most touchingly tender and beau
/ tiful, descriptive Of the sad fate OF
many a patient, uncomplaining wife
and mather, who, Overburdened and
worn out with care, has ''dien before her
time" He who can read this poem un-
moved must be destitute of the soul of a
/ true man; and even if the author had
never written anything else, this should
immOrtalize her name:
No outward sign her angelhood revealed.
save that her eyes were wondrOus mild and
fair
The aureole round her forehead was concealed
BY the pale glory OF her shining hair.
She bore the yoke and wore the name OF wife
/ To one who made her tenderness and grace
4 mere convenience OF his narrow life
! And put = Seraph in servants place.
She cheered his meager hearth-she blessed
and warmed
His poverty, and met his harsh demands
! With meek, ,unvarying patience, and performed
{ It's menial tasks with her stained and battered
hands,
She nursed his children through their helples,
years
Gave them her strength, her youth, her bean
tvs prime
Bore for them sore privatIons. toll and tears.
Which made her old and tired before he
time.
/ And when fierce fever smoie him with lu
blight.
/ Her calm, consoliug presence charmed nj,
Through long and thankless watches, day and
Her fiutiering fingers cooled his face hk,
rain.
With son, magnetic touch, and murmun
sweet
She brought him sleep, and stilied his fret
J ful moan,
And taught his flying pulses TO repeat
The mild and moderate measure Of her own
She had an artists quick, perceptive eyes
For All the beautiful; poets heart
For every changing phase of earth and skies,
And all things fair in nature and In art.
She looked with all woman's keen delight
ON Jewels rich and dainty drapery.
Rare fabrics, and soft hues-the happy right
OF those more favored but less fair than she
On pallld pearls, which glimmer cool an,
white,
p. Dimming prond foreheads with their purity
On silks which gleam and ripple In the light,
4 And shin and simmer like the summer sea
On gems like drops by sudden sunlight kissed
When fall the last large brilliants OF the rain
I On laces delicate AS frozen mist
Emhroidering winter window pane;-
Yet, near the throng OF worldly butterflies
She dwelt, a chrySalis, in homely brown:
With costliest splendnrs Haunting Ia her eyes
She went her dull way In a gingham gown,
Hedged in by alien hearts, unloved. alone.
with slender shoulders bowed beneath ihel
She irod the path that fate had made her own
Nor met one kindred spirit on the road.
slowly the years rolled onward, and AZ last.
When the bruised reed was broken, and he
soul
knew It's sad term OF earthly bondage past.
And felt Its nearneSs 10 the heavenly goal,
Then n strange gladness filled the tender eve,
Which gazed afar beyond all grief and sin
Aud seemed TO see the gates OF Paradis.
Enclosing for her feet TO enter In.
Vainly the master she had served 40 long
Clasped her worn hands, and, with remorse
, ful tears,
Cried: ''Stay, oh, stay, Forgive my bite
wrongs!