The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1875-04-09
EDITOR TRUE NoRrHERSER

Please allow me, through your columns, TO
return my sincere thanks to Malinda for her
kindness in relieving me from my quandary %
TO what gender the writer OF the heeier ar''cies
belongs, although must say was disappointed
and chagrined. as had always considered those
effuslons from the pen OF some disappointed
| old bachelor. or else some "hen-pecked nus
band. whose womanly wife ruled him with a
womanly will, and he, believing all women TO
be alike, naturally concluded that In asking Tor
anv more rights the wives and sisters were ask
ING too much. But she has corrected my error
Az I finished reading her article, the thought
suggested by male friend few days ago was
very forcibly impressed upon my mind. Said
he, 81 have been for years, and still am, an
advocate OF equal rights. 1 believe that as a
reform it is destined to succeed, because 1t is
founded upon principles OF truth and justice,
which no man can deny or gainsay. But when
l listen to the ridicule and backbiting, which
many OF their own sex are continually heaping
upon those good and noble women, who, in the
magnanimity Of their souls, are labonng not
only for the elevation OF their own sex but all
mankind, am constrained to believe that al
least this class of women have all the rights
and privileges they ought to have or can APP
preciate." This large class" said he. must
first DO lifted up out of the slough Of ignorance,
prejudice and jealousy into which they have
fallen before the cause will make very rapid
progress. / suppose this will be accomplished
in time, but as for me, have no patience what
ever with woman who, not satifed with stand
ing directly in her own light, is continually
maneuverlng to darken somebody else's path
way by her heightened shadow"
But" said /, ought we not to pity rather
than blame for 1t Is but the natural result OF
these long years Of education and subsection
You know it sometimes takes the tender plant,
which has been bowed down by al unnatural
weight but or single night long time to
straighten up; but from day to day it gathers
strength from the bracing air, the invigorating
rain and the life-giving rays of the sun, and by
and by it assumes its natural, erect POSITION
budding and blossoming, and sending forth its
fragrance to all around. So it will be with
Woman. when she has once avaled herself OF
all the natural and educational elements that
belong to her,
But to return. Malinda says, (referring to
her report), How the neglect could have
happened l cannot possibly tell, knowing how
sweet to woman is praise" OF course l must
yield to her better judgment here, being
woman herself she ought to know but them
all women are not just alike suppose. Never
theless, according to the old adage, self judg-
ments are righteous, if they are not always cor
rect But we have not time to reply to all the
points presented in her last article az we should
| like. Suffice it to gay, that as we musinSly
passed over one sentiment after another and
our eyes at length fell upon the sentence -
Now be it far from me to close, or wish to
have closed, any avenue that may be open, or
opened, FOR the supposed advancement OF
women l found myself exclaiming " thank
the Lord for the progressive and elevating
power OF advancing time for felt that no
matter how fast the past twelve months had
fed. they still had left their work behind-that
during their reign this same sister nine had re-
ceived many z ray OF light and truth into her
soul, Tor, If l mistake not, It has been but a
short time since have not only read articles
! from her pen, but have heard her present argu-
ments in opposition to any measures tending
in that direction.
M2llnda proceeds TO say: :" II she wishes to
! be physician, physical or spiritual, II she
wishes 10 take the public rostrum, or to mingle
! IN the mercantile or financial world, she has a
! perfect right and no man should say to her
Lay. But let her IN all these be careful TO re-
taia her r07odny dignity" Here l laid down
] -, Il,
desperate effort to drink N the full meaning
OF her words,-to understand, il I could what
shs meant by 'womanly dignity" I knew that
| to my mind It at once presented the image OF a
woman who wore upon her very countenance
taeimpress o. virtue and intelhgence,- "a woman
who could not only sing and play, but could
read aud think for herself, "a woman. who not
being bowed down by the fashions and follies
OF the day, dare stand up in the dignity OF her
divine nature and denounce and condemn the
great moral evils Of the age even though the
thoughtless multitude stood ready to fling sar-
casm and ridicule at her,-a woman who loves
truth better than dattery, and principles better
than praise. l also knew this was not the
picture Naiinda wished to convey to our minds,
and still was puzzled to know Just what her
IDEAS OF womanly dignity were and feared
should have to wait and ask for definition
when suddenly bethought me OF the obituary
in which she gives US her definition in full.
Speaking Of the deceased, she says: "Of a
social nature she yet denied herself the pleasure
OF social gatherings, deyoting her energies to
the benefit Of her family. she was purely
womaniy, never aspiring after masculine hon
ors.' wonder how many Of our large and
noble hearted women would be satisfied with
that description OF true womanhood ? 10 Tor
me, l never did believe in reversing Nature,
destroying the health and dwarfing the soul, for
the sake Of appearing lady-like and effeminate
We were created social beings, and God intend
ed that in moving aOout and associatng one
with another, We should gather strength OF
body, mind and soul that we should not only
receive but imparJ happiness and intellectual
strength TO others. And she who deliberately
stays at home, denying herself all these APP
pointed means OF pleasure and profit, not only
tramples under foot some of the most i'm
potant Of Natures laws, but does great IN
| fuatire e anretv neraaIf har bnahand arJ 49,