Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1875-12-07
For the OXFORD DEMOCRAT
WOman Historically Considered.
by W. +. snATTUCK NJ. d.
No. 1.

The r,lpe of he 5 tbMe rryiilS The
republic OF K Jm1 in lis inianli!e condition
hld but few women. and the neighboriug
nations looking upon this people as a sci
of lawless bandtli would not give their
daughters in marriage. consequently
Romuus, It's founder, having tailed 10y
negotiations 10 procure wives Tor his citi
zens, resorted 10 stratagem. To favor
the plan he appointed dag. and pro.
claimed festival in honor OF equestrian
Neptune inviting the neighboring nations
to participate. By this means he gather
ed large concourse OF people, and at O
given signal the R)mans with drawn
swords rushed among the guests, and
iurcibly carried large number OF their
daughters to Rome. The following day
Romulns distributed them as wives to
thos, of hi, citizens who had thus vic
lenLly abducted them.
one would suppose from this rude
beginning. and among people so stern
and inllexible as tho Romans, the women
would DO treated in more indignant and
worse manner than among the Greeks and
surrounding nations. This was not the
case, for it was the Romans who first gave
the sex public liberty and properly culti-
waited their minds. thinking it more nee
essary than to adorn their persons. The
Romans fitted and introduced them into
society. making them national compan-
ions. and showing to the world that wo.
man was capable of great actions and
deserved q better fate than to be impris-
oned in a seraglio, to be kept only as
instruments to crafty the baser emotions
of mans nature, or for pageants OF
grandeur; facts which the subsequent
history OF the stolen women fully ex-
emplifed.
As would be expected, this high handed
act of base treachery on the part of the
Romans was met with indignant resent
ment by the neighboring nations, more
especially BY the Sabines to whom much
the larger portion Of these females be-
longed. They sent deputation demand
ing the restitution of their daughters,
accompanied with promises of alliance,
and the liberty of intermarrying should
their proposition be acceded to. Bat the
willy Romulus was not to be caught so
easily, feeling that he now had the means
for raising up citizens Tor his republic, he
was unwilling to part 50 readily with his
women. but demanded that the SIbines
should confirm the marriages of their
daughters with the Romans. These con.
ferences produced q treaty OF peace in
which the Romans had advantages, but in
few years the Sabines getting stronger.
sen. second embassy demanding their
daughters and were again refused, and
hostilities commenced in earnest. The
Sabnes getting in degree the ascend
ancy beseiged Romuus in his citadel of
Rome, and threatened him and his people
with destruction unless their daughters
wers restored. In this crisis OF affairs
Hersila, wife OF Romulus. demanded
audieuce Of the Senate. and proposed a
design which the women had formed
among themselves to act the part OF me-
diators between the contending parties.
The scheme being accepted. an act was
Immediately passed permitting the
women to go on their proposed negotia
tion, requiring them 10 leave their chill
dren behind as security that they would
return. Thus permitted they laid aside
their ornaments. and putting on mourn
ing advanced to the camp OF the Sabines.
and threw themselves at the feet OF their
fathers. The Sabine king having assem-
bled bis chief officers ordered the women
to state for what purpose they had come,
which Hersiia did in so pathetic manner
that she brought on conference between
the chiefs Of the two nations, and this
conference by her mediation and that OF