The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, D.T. [N.D.]) 1873-1875, 1874-04-22
THE DOLLY WARDEN PAPERS:
The New Crusade.
By LINDA ". SLAUGHTER.

able az having witnessed the inaugura-
ton Of the "Womens' Whiskey War"
This, like the famous Battle Of the
Kegs" twill long live in verse and
story, and the coming man shall read,
now in each eastern town aud hamlet,
organic d bands Of earnest, determined
women, marched out into the streets
and beseiged each aIchoholic stronghold,
not with mortar, cannon and petard,
but with the peaceful weapons Of song
aud prayer.
Far be it fIem me ever to speak light
ly of cenc Ned Christian effort any
where! | know that in the ranks of
these praying bands ure found women of
culture, of refinement. OF true nobility
Of nature, and Of the, highest social
worth; sorrow,ng wives and mothers
who have tasted tie bitterness OF this
curse, who have felt the keenness of
poverty and the disgrace Of drunken
ness, and who in days Of anxiety and
weary nights Of watching, have earned
the ! ght to protest thus solemnly ant
publicly against the supposed authors Of
their wrongs. ,..+ IL r...-..
But it does seem TO, me, as If these
good woman had somehow gotten hold
Of the wrong horn OF the dilemma, and
are fi4hting their war with unwomanly
weapons, wasting their ammunition, as
it we'e. by blindly hurting themselves
against the strongholds Of the enemy.
Never since the days of Sancho Panza
has there been such waste Of enthu-
<i"sm, such an exhibition Of misdrected
energy aud mistaken zeal. Like poor
tacticians these honestly, sincere war
riors, are destroying their own vitality
in useless onslaughts on the outer wa,l
Of the castle, wbena little social strategy
would effect peaceful surrender. They
have started out on the wrong premises
and have mistaken the effect for the
cause. The saloons are no more reSpOn-
sible for the sins OF intemperate men,
than MilllIer StOl eS are accountable iOr
the fOllies and weaknesses of fashionable
women. 90 1'
Men, who cannot pass saloon with
out feeling thirsty, and who, when once
amid the ''gl'tter'ng generalit,es."' y of
The bar, become Obliv,ouS of the fight
of time, have their counterpart in
women who cannot pass milIiner store
w.tho It stopping, and who when sur
rounded with the hewildering display of
fantastic vanities, become SO intoxicated
with the tinssled tr,fes Of lace and rib.
bun, As to be incapable of exercising
their Judgment, but linger % absorbed
~ the study Oi fashion plates, forgetful
of the fact that the wheels Of their
household machinery will be at dead
lock until their return. Home, husband
aud Children are secondary matters to
such women, and too often they indulge
in purchases vi useless things winch
they Cal, i'll afford, tothe great detriment
oi their husbands purse and credit.
Now this is very sad, bat because
there are weak women, who possess
neither strength or inclination to resist
the telnptstlon Of toolishly spending
their husbands money, wasti' their
time, and nsglectihg their families,
shall we abolish the milliner st.,res that
are 1T once u convenience and necessity
10 thousands Of good, sensible women,
who love beautiful things for their own
sake, And At which they can select: their
personal adornuent with good .taste,
sound jud gment, aud conscientious re-
gard tor their husbands income Ger
la'"ly ,t.would Ge the height Of absurd
ity tor the unhappy husbands Of these
weak wives 70 altsMpt q raid on such
establishments, aud how ludicrous it
would be, were they to orgarize pray
,ng band to pray the milliner shops out
OF existence And it wouldn't do a
bit o. good either. No sooner would
one conscience stricken milliner sue
cumb 10 the force Of public opinion,
than another more enlerprising firm
Muuld startsup, on the same street, per-
hsps, and dr,ve q Furnishing trade. with
the qu.nd"m customers, ot the former.
~, fattl'er tth f. 1t tt them pray that their
VIZ; wives may IS, given strength to resist
tsnptatlioiii'I,, IN. Let them through tbe
fYrcv Of n,ptat ssYu,;aisi.on. 81; or other matri-
monial, arga..snls pi Seek t. corr sct fbeir
wives Unhappy disposition, - to
st q. Is syys !!fs|S. Is2s ssd iy?:
PaIhE lR Tier s0Xn l haassbbs9lsdS, bs 3ba.
fHeV NAV beeOrnC III fire true, Bl0Ilc4