The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1875-06-25
Grne Nortbermer.
Paw Paw. MICHIGAN, JUNE rs, 1875.
ND. TsnE NoaTHERNER.--

aule55 Melinda presents some more f0rmlda-
bile and effective points than she did in her
last article
In the place OF argument she makes several
assertions, some OF which, are not only old and
stale but false and frivolous.
First, she says Perhaps it would be woman
ly for me to desist etc. Well, 1 must confess,
that according to her ideas OF womanly ways
aud duties. | think it would. 1t is always well
to practice what we preach, II We wish to have
any effect upon others. l very much fear, es-
pecially II she Judge the rest OF her sex from
her own standpoint, that in devoting so much
OF her time TO literary or electloneerinS pur-
suits she lis negIecting either husband or chill
dren or some of her household duties, and this
would be an objectionable offense for one
advocating her doctrine. L very much rear
she ia lust IN the midst of house-cleaning and
has not found a moments time to help her
husband IN the garden But il she will call
round TO tins part OF the country, can point
ont TO he.. many equal suffragists who have
not only disposed OF this part OF their domes-
tic duties over a month ago but have also
cultivated the garden. II is always well enough
nough TO sweep our own door-yards clean be-
fore troubling ourselves about those OF other
people.
Again Melinda asserts, 1t Is simply impossi-
bic for n woman to attend suffrage conven-
lions OF assist 10 the exercises and properly
care for hex own household. This is an I'M
truthful assertion a. it has been done times
without number I hope my kind sister will
sake no off enae II l state the fact that l would
as soon trust my household, my children and
myself to the kind care and attention Of Mrs,
T.. @. Stanton or Mrs. Lucretia Mott as to Me-
linda herself. VIII our sister be so kind as to
demonstrate to your many readers, how it re-
quires tho expenditure of any more time, tai
emit OF vitality to attend now and then a suf-
rrage convention than to attend the same
number Of teachers or Sunday school conven
tons IL believed as she does or accepted
OF her assertions, my heart would go out in
fenderest sympathy and pity for her much
5used husband and children, for to my certain
knowledge this same dignified wife and mother
has attended at least three conventions (and |
don't know how many more) since the last Of
February 10 first OF March. Why what a di-
bein. Let me enquire my dear neglected Bro.
how long you will allow your good nature to
DE thus trespassed upon. Why don't you sue
fora divorce then hunt up a woman whose
mind and aspirations never rose any higher
than buildings and pies, jams and jellies, and
thus secure 20 yourself domestic felicity
Just think what waste Of time,-three
days in lese than four months Again, il your
wife was only suffragist like men, il she
spent now and then a day attending some of
those literary, religious or political snterta n
ments, she would arrive at home 80 much
strengthened and exhilarated by the change
rs to be able to do two days work in one-but
las n man thinks 80 is he" and l suppose the
same adage will apply to a woman, and of
course to Melinda 1t must be al loss aud no
gain. do not believe any such thing. l
doubt not abe Is a great deal better wife and
mother. and that you tonor and respect her
vastly more than IL she spent al her time IN
cooking washing dishes and making garden.
Another assertion that Melinda makes is,
that it must be admitted that women have
more rights than men. By whom must it be
nor any Que else with common observation
who has arrived at the age OF discretion, SIM
ply, because the inequality Is so great that
they cannot be deceived. Woman has right
to be taxed without representation. and to pay
chat tax without any voice in the manner in
which the money shall be expended even
though IL be decidedly against her interests.
Ifshe be a woman without family she has a
right to do the same amount OF labor just as
we'll RI a man and receive one half as much
pay. II she is woman with family she has
the right to work a third more hours than her
husband, tend baby all night, and then II she
need money enough to buy herself a new cal
AGO dress she has the right to beg OF her hus-
band for 1t. II her husband die she has a
right to the use Of one third OF what Is left
after tho administrators, lawyers etc., have
had theu share /; besides, shs who is the God
appointed guardian Of her children has the
right to pray and petition some strange man
that she may have some one appointed guar
dian over the minor children. But have not
time to enumerate all the rights accorded her
by the law,-but IL the wife die the law is IL
lent she is Of so little account that her de-
cease is not thought worthy OF notice. The
husband takes all the property,-even the
children now have no rights to be respected,
although the wife may have earned two thirds
or the whole of 1t it is his to do with as he
pleases. He may spend it upon himself his
second wife or her children. And this my
good aster calls equality, / suppose. Away
with such laws. The fact Is, there Is not one
woman in hundred who knows anything
about tho laws of our land. II they would lay
aside their fictitious reading and commence
che study of our statute books, as did Mrs Z.
G, Stanton, they would soon advocate the
same sentiments that she does. IL sister Me-
linda would read some works on law as well as
Dr. Holland, perhaps she would get more
light.
JONATHAN.