The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1873-04-17
Written for the journal.
Register Studies. No. 8.
WHO ARE THEY?


shall unsex myseltr' Echo, in the shape
of a beruflied and betrizzled, languid
| little woman, drawIed out-"What in the
world do these terrible women want to
keep harping upon women's rights for?
I'm sure l have all the rights want now,
and more too" And much more to the
same effect, closing up with-''I admire
weak women, women who have no
thought beyond their husbands and
houses" The effect of this neat little
speech was fine. A number of bright
buttoned youths, with slight hirsute pre-
tentions upon the upper lip, gathered
about the fair speaker, complimenting her
gaily upon her conservative tendencies,
winding up with gracefully turned com
pliments upon her bright color, Git was
glarng red paintD and general good
looks
| had previously been introduced to
these ladies', and had my own ideas of
their domestic proclivities. This CONVEX
sation led me to make some inquiries con-
cernng them, with perfectly astonishing
results
Madame Ia premier, was the wife of
iaded college professor, who tried to exc
out scanty subsistence on fifteen hun
dred year. During the Professors soph-
omOre days, he became engaged to a
pretty tace-and as in duty bound mar
ried it, the day he graduated accepting
the position of tutor in ,he college when
he was graduated aAd thence crawling
up by slow stages to the more honorable
position of Professor Of Mathematics,
while his wife in the mean time had used
her position rs married woman, 10 tlirt
with all the irritable seniors, in q mild
way, perhaps but nevertheless to the
neglect Of her husband and children; for
she had two sickly boys, whose health
required that they should be kept in the
country and as It took all the Professors
salary TO support his wife, the children
were domicled with their paternal grand
mother, q feeble woman, but Christian
l noticed the lady's hands were very
white and shapely, and her fingers were
covered with costly rings,-whie it was
well-known fact that the Prof. wore Uery
seedy coats, and could by no manner OF
means save money enough out of his
modest salary to purchase q home for
himself and family.
Lady number two, was born TO wealth
A nursery maid had tended and followed
her through the first five years of her
mundane existence. From five to four
teen had been passed in tormenting gov
ernesses. The next two years in q fash
ionabe boarding school, learning to par
ley-vous franchise and dress her hair
ala mode. Thus at seventeen she was
let loose upon an admiring world, with a
hankering for French millinery, and
talent for matrimony. Result-at nine
teen she married a fine establishment with
q masculine attachment, kept her coach
and -four, dressed drove, danced, wined,
III oHclt w eio Ntii w Cl bcNiO ttlN oVuls "
fashion and folly:
50, Luxury, thou cursed by Heavens decree"
Sitting near me, in the same parlor, was
one of the most prominent ''sutfragist"
ladies in our state She too had been born
to wealth and position, but had married
man of moderate means. Suiting her lite
to her more limited surroundings, She
had been in truth Aelp-nlcst to her hus-
band Hcr hands were bronzed with daily
toll, no costly Jewels adorned her fingers,
nought but the heavy gold band that
spoke of horored marriage. This woman
had found time to not only attend to her
domestic affairs, but to sit outside the
prison cells of q nei9hboring institution,
and teach the ill-Starred cOnvicts the COM
fortng truths of Holy writ. Many blood
and law stained wretch has there for the
first time in years heard, I'm my Fathers
house are many mansions!" And at the ex-
piration of his sentence walked the earth
new man through the untiring efforts OF
this Christian woman.
Sitting by my register, trying t. settle
in my own mind who they are who most
earnestly advocate the suffrage movement,
| recalled the above facts DO not claim
that all who oppose the movement are
supremely selfish, or worthless women
Neither would claim that All who favor
it are Jealous Christians | simply hope
that every woman will look about her
with eyes wide open, and see for herself
what class or classes of women favor or
oppose this work also what class or
classes Of men are interested for or
against it. If am not mistaken all The
oophomores both IN and ont of college,
are a unit against it; for it is Il well estab-
lished fact, that a certain class of minds
never get beyond the sophomore grasp OF
any question, My own observation goes
to show, that the best and ablest men OF
America, the most devoted husbands and
fathers, sons and brothers, are among its
warmest advocates and strongest defend
ers RAY.