Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1874-03-11
Gentle Woman Reused.

Gentle Woman Reused.
A story ofthe Temperance Crusade in the West.
BY REV. 4. ?. ROE.
81 think such action is unlady.like,
unwomanly, and altogether wrong" said
Mrs. Elliott, warmly. "The idea of women
marching in bands through the streets, fol-
lowed by a rabble Of rude men and boys
the idea Of refined ladies forcing their way
into some filthy bar-room, full of obscene,
guzzlng, ill-omened looking loafers, and
kneeling on the tobacco-stained floor in
audible prayer. These temperance move
ments always tend to fanatcism, but this is
little worse than anything | have heard
Of yet. Must woman unsex herself, and
brave the most disgusting phase Of pub
licity2 Must the pearls Of religious feel
ing, even in the most sacred form Of prayer,
be cast before the swine that infest these
low dens ~
The speaker was young and very pretty
lady, who had lived in our town about a
year Indeed, she had not been married
much longer than that, having come to US
as a bride. She was a fine type Of the New
England girl, quite brilliant and ready in
conversation, very refined and high cul-
tured, little opinionated, but intense in
her disgust at the pronounced phase Of
woman's rights" Home is woman's
highest sphere" she was wont to say, "and
there she can be the power behind and
above the throne" As we came to know
her well, we found that she possessed a
warm heart and Christian principle, though
not very obtrusive in manifesting either.
Something of the GOODNESS and repression Of
New England society tinctured her manner,
and made her seem little formal, at first,
in contrast with our free, hearty Western
style. Like too many Of her sisters, instead
of gaining hardness from the bleak hills
and chill winds of her early home, she ap-
reared frail blossom that would ever need
the shelter of the tenderest love and care.
Her husband was a Western man--one
who had grown up in our young city. He
was well connected, of recognized ability as
lawyer, and with future before him oi
the fairest promise. 1t had occasionally
been whispered that he drank rather freely
but no one had ever seen him the worse for
it, His lovely young wife seemed to pos
sess boundless influence over him, and for
the greater part of the first year Of his mar
ried life he had been very domestic. But
of late he spent his evenings out more fre-
quently, excusing his absence by saying
that there were parties that could be seer
in the way of business better at night thar
during the day.
had my fears, but the wife suspected
nothing
Two or three Of US were sitting socially
with our work 10 her pretty parlor one af.
ternoon, when some remark on the strange
temperance movement that had lately beer
developed led to Mrs. Eliott's decided ex.
preston of opinion with which have com.
menced this brief record of an experience
SO different from my usual quiet life.
will merely say to the reader that
am middle-aged widow lady, quite alone
in the world. My home is next door "a
that Of Mrs. Eliott's, and from some Sc.
cret affinity we had become very intimate
Years before my natural heart treasures
had slipped from me, and |, in my loneli'
ness, found it very easy to love my young
neighbor as a daughter. Through a side
entrance we ran in and out of each Others
homes with perfect freedom, and often sal
with our work together.
This afternoon Mrs. Judge Ashman
another intimate friend, was also with us
Her only immediate response to Mrs. Eli,
otis words was u deep sigh. At last she
said
1.-The evil grows so desperate car
scarcely wonder at any effort to counteract
it, though | must say with you that car
scarcely understand this one do not sec
how lady can 60 to such places as you
describe, suppose, only too truly. But
the trouble is, the worst mischief is not done
at these dens.' Many Of our drinking sa,
looms are elegant in all their appointments
and are frequented by gentlemen"
"No matter" answered Mrs. Elliott, al
most horlyi womauly delicacy forbid,
that she should 60 to such place. They
are frequented by roues and gamblers also
who differ from the ragged loafers only in
being better dressed. In each case she i:
liable 10 insult, and to see and hear things
which, to pure, refined woman, are worse
than blows. I'd rather meet the coarse
brutality of the dens than the contemptu.
Gus leers and mocking smiles of the gilded
saloons"
What you say, my dear, seems perfectly
true, and have always felt 80 myself
But oh what can we do =? what can we do 7
It's dreadful to sit still with folded hands
and see the havoc these places are making.
The pathos and distress of Mrs. Ashman's
voice we're too deep to be caused by merely
general appreciation of the evils Of intem,
perance. l had read the secret of the
mothers trouble in the flushed and bloated
face Of one Of her sons. Mrs. Elliott
looked at her with little surprise, and
said more quietly:
81 agree with you, it is very great
evil, perhaps the greatest in our age, but il
is mans work to cope with it publicly
Women can help by making home so at
tractive that husbands, fathers and broth,
ers, will find nothing that can tempt them
abroad. Thank God, | have never had
much personal experience in this matter
My husband takes glass of wine when he
feels like it, and 50 did my father. There's
no more harm in that than in the use of tea
and coffee"
"No," said Mrs. Ashman, with another
deep sigh, 81 suppose not, if it would only
end there"
Again Mrs. Elliott looked at her little
cgri0vsly, and changed the subject. The