The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1874-02-02
y,etor,. C. woodruff.

This lady appeared seoono ahiein Lay |
export, Sunday eyening,as social reform
err. She ranks among the best rostrum
sneakers in all that constitutes the agreea-
bic in appearance and delivery. Her
dress was plain black with white rose at
the throat, hair rolled back and hanging
loose. through which, in moments OF ex-
element. she runs the fingers of the right
hand in true declamatory style. NleWed
from the side her features approach the
classic Grecian, while full view shows al
together different mold She has fine
voice. softer than Anna Dickinson's, Is
more eloquent than that lady and more
consistent. She is a good actor, even to
attempting tragedy. She had the most
respectful attention of the large audience
present, which was composed OF the sons
and husbands Of the so-called most res
pectable families of Davenport, with prob
ably some twenty-five or more ladies, al
also large number of our own citizens, al
Of whom acknowledged the strong hits a.
the defects of our social system by hearty
applause.
The germ of her whole lecture is in op
position to the present legal marriage, AM
she rakes the by-ways and slums Of societ.
for illustrations, and does not hesitate Z
e enter polite circles for some Of them. Oh
+ finds her strongest arguments In the faml
" eircle-in the lack of confidence betwee
o. man and wife, the custom OF teaehin
children from youth to marry for money
II and condemns the unwilling mother for Ill
Il ing our jails and penitentaries and giyln
If to the street the rowdy and the blasph'
a. nous, also for neglecting the physical ed'
q. cation of her young children just coming
Il, manhood and womanhood, She illustrate
,e these points with facts which are known
id those who have had opportunity of seer
ne much of the world and which cannot
- disputed, though there is difference
We opinion az to the method of reform.
And on this point she speaks with co
siderable feeling, using the stronge
or terms in condemning the minister, the dc
tor and the editor as teachers OF the Peep
for fearing to discuss these things as tn
~ ~ exist-for mock modesty in avoiding su
e. iects so vital to the life, health and hapl
"a ness Of the human race.
She breaks through all social restraint
py without attempting to excuse the appare
ds immodesty Of her position, and takes t
an broadcast and most democratic positions a
'as predicts a near future when there will
'er the same public discussion of these 81
iects, without even blush mantllng t
cheek of the most circumspect listener,
is now held secretly. Such is in brief t
subject of her much talked-of lectu
The which contains nothing so very terrible,
or all she names exists right under the W
ON shadow Of the sanctuary, in the daily pa
vas of the pastor and in the daily practice
the physicians, and in many family circl
a The only question Is the method OF
emf form and have our teachers the mo
Law courage to call things by their right nan
hal and to enter the field OF discussion,
i've not that better and more perfect and m
I'm truly moral and christian men and won
Ids are not needed.
We learn that Mrs. Woodruff will V
this vicinity again in about six weeks, h
u - ing $3.50 engagement to repeat her
III ture in Springfield, in this State.