, 1875-05-24
A WOMAN'S OPINION or IT.
Lecture Mt T1CCurnitck's Hail by Miss
Anna DfCktnH1f.


Mis- Anun L. Dickinson lacturod q: McCor-
miek's Hall yesterday afternoon, under the aus
piees Of Tho Womau's Polytechnic Rocioty. taxi
Ing ~ hor subject, IA Woman'a Opinion Of H."
Despisa the threatening weather tue ball waa
wall flied, and by a>highiy intelligent aud Ap-
preclatise audionco.
she said there wc2s = rast number OF qucs-
tfons that received an earnest discussion bcsauso
Of their general importance and TINT It waa sad
that other qnestonB-quett!ond At the very
foundation Of everything good and nobie-werc
comparatively annulled by common consent.
Good society had decided practically that
great social questions should DO
overlooked, and that 1t waa indicate, especially
for WOMAN, to enter their discnsston upon ths
roBttum. Tho news columna of tho daily press
teamed, however, with ecductlons, Adulteries
tapes and the ontIro catalogue Of infamy. and
ono arfasnd tbs facts the other discussed them
for the family circle. Nnught vas shid ssainst
this custom !; but socisty held VI mans fall 10
be mortal crime. but tho ravorBe with tue op-
crossing for tho roaaon that man, knowing fte
fal!aoy rofuaol 10 deny IT,. ~bile woman. con-
scious Of It, had not tue COURAGE to assett hrr
belief and to confront ths iniido! Christianity
world in .sareh for plsssurs. aud could
get down to the lowest depths Of degsada-
: bold trout. II hy ohaneo ho should f.li, 10 10
Ind suro ineana Of return. Society hold out
its arms. ns,couaciouh. ss 1t vote, that ~ thus
acting it was sowing the secds Of corruption, and
bringing upon ihs human family noro Of misa1y
than could be computed. II man took dlshonor-
abo advantage Of mau, ho Was sneered At and
tortnrea by bis fellow man. but il the caso Vas
reversed, aud D woman was made tho object Of
d.sho1or, society excused tbs offenders crimo
aud called bis oncnao manly pssttme..
Woman WAS dscolvod, too often by her inno-
ceuce: confidence, Or iguoranoo, aud, when de-
ceived, TO one could measure her miAery. Lock-
Ing In hcr heart her secrct, and Withholding
from her fond father and mo,tsr her error, tie
sonly eseapo fran ler folly |ooned up
e rsa said' 10 and .s e' e,*ass was ;as en esasa
upon Ter the result Of her lndiecretiou-in hcr
arms sbo bore \ tender babe, aud society snote
hor upon cyorye hand. Agoniziug iu her. cond,-
ttou. do8p'sed BY hds psfaistd no less than by
spectabailty. or even TO hgaiu appear what 3ho
was. her offspring had to bc COTTON rid Of. 1t
finally found its grave In tho river. rerchancr,
and. branded ~ murderess II eho tr.ad to
tvelFe men rho found "srue bill "agaiust ltef
and tho galloua ended tlla eventful career
which sociotv had marked out for her. Her de-
ceiret. nerchance. was op tho Jury :; at least lie
to movo along sullslsas. and h,s crime WAS
sLs was confident sho had not OYER
drawn tho picture for 1t was Apppa-
rent to everybody that soetety had by
bJ man filled tie puor.houae orphan .asyluna,
aud PRISONS. Man. oace being cnitcod into such
erino against tho mora! law syaa usvaf satisfied.
His CAREER Tas onward, and society was At blu
woman faiog found society resdr snd porsist.
ent In pushing her down, down, to the lowest
depths. until ans Waa bayond Ietracing her Htsps.
Hhe thought Woman waa neascHt HcaTcn whom
the world said Of har for this first trns that sho
had "falisn;" but society took the contrary
riaw, aud said rush hor down to hell whore abe
was needed. When known IA "faf!eu sl1o Tas
dussn from tho Church, from society, frota all
means Of honorable livelihood. and hor DOWN
down Was shs baaest and In going dorm himaclf
ho did it from his own election. It
Was not 60 with woman she went down by do
csltlon, and sas hold there by the 1nsrcileis
~ brought forth only ner jeers. and, a. sha
passed from place to place aakug Of nan for
auccor aud Tho crust Of bread, han1!u!s OF sand
only wero thrown IN her face, until ho who bad
crushed her to the snth heaped over her her
graye.ridGe.
The lecturer then drew tho picture Of = man
entering upon city life. liz came to t,s busy
mart possessed OF vigoE, euargy, avd iaduatry.
He ontcred society, and dragged along through
. life vhtch seemed burden To him. He nent
Into the byways and highways, aud sh1ev away
his 1od-Givea virtue, aud soon grew to DO !
moral wreck. He returued 10 his mother full
Of Ruls. lie met her r,rtuous gaze, which
after having barterel his houor aud contributed
bls might to the doath OF womAnly purity, was
UNDESIRABLE. His poisoned and dcpsavcd nature
found no hab,tation in tho parental bosom, and
be returned to tho stream from whlch he slipped
his vi!ouesss and depravity. He felt II homo
upon his return 10 thu poisoned atmosphere.
Society welcomed him, balhtered him up, nus-
tursi him, and asalsted him to smead his cor
Iuptiou upon the world.
She was not hero to condemn man, but aimplY
to preaent facts, and wait ior tho result. Man,
conhc!oua Of tue urouG, Tofased to raise Lis voice
sEe'nst. ana she ssood up to proclaim tbs truth
aud to asBst public op!ulon to mako 1t easter for
him to liva virtuous and up,ight life, aud 10
urge society 70 put woman on a
plano with him aud lif& her from
tho ban under which society had placed
her. Sho would elevato the sexos. And havo 30
clety equallzs tteiE responsibility and extend to
them, II God did. equal psaiso for thcir virtues
aud censuro for thbir fslliugs.
Throughout the delivery the lecturers heart
Was iu her subleot, - oridonced ty tho tears
which con.tantlJ wet Aar sJes. Although her
lecture wAs not nov, It WAS regarded ~ among
her bsAt. aud gaye great satisfaction.
cvyAyr~A a ErsG N197NG