Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1876-07-13
II MONSTER MAN.
The DOwn.TrOdden Sex and self
support.

The DOWn.TrOdden Sex and SELF
support.
In a late number Of the Cycle, a hyper
critical literary journal published at Mo-
bile, Alabama, the following letter ap.
pears on the subject Of the Down
trOdden Sex" from the pen of Mrs. Mer-
iwether, of this city:
MEMPHIS, Tenn. June 26, 1876.
EDITOR CYCLE: Enclosed are some ar
tieles which / fear may quite horrify
you. Please, however, remember that at
first view every innovation frightens the
mind, and that without change there
would be no progress. ] have for years
given this question my best thought and
closest investigation, aud honestly be.
lieve the condition Of women, especially
working women, pitiable in the extreme.
| see no remedy for their suffering aud
poverty and degradation but self de-
pendence-habits OF self-dependence-
not man-dependence, as now. | mean an
education with the view to %self-support.
Nothing a bring this about but equal.
ity beforethe law, the right to pursue
any trade or profession as talent may
incline. | long since determined, as
soon as my boys should be grown so
large as not TO need all my care, to de-
Tote some Of my energies TO the cause
Of the oppressed women in the country
who work under ouch grieyous dis.
advantages. The time has come,
and so on the 9th Of May l delivered a
lecture to our citizens, and was received
with a welcome that not only gratifed
but astonished me. Not only the highest
Of the legal fraternity have written me
compliments aud ~sympathize with the
cause, but the clergy also-and you
know as a general thing preachers are
strongly opposed to new ideas. 1t is
time the South were waking up to the
needs Of its impoverished women. Mrs
Saxon, as myself, is an ardent Southern
woman, and feels deeply for the down
trodden OF her sex. She herself has 10
need for an extension of legal rights,
having wealth and position. We think
it, however, the more our duty TO speak
for those who are unable to speak for
themselves. | shall look for the Cycle
with some anxiety, as | so ardently hope
the noble men of the South will give
this subject earnest and generous
thought, and not, as the vulgar Yankee
men, indulge in malicious sneers and
jeers at arguments they have not the viii
TO refute. Yours truly,
h. A. MERIwETHER.
/ may say in this matter, / have the
full sympathy Of my husband and sons,
The Cycle appends the following series
of reflections to the letter:
Our own views are in full accord will
Mrs. MeriWether g, as we understand
them, IS far as regards the propriety anC
rightfulness of removing all hindranees
legal or conventional, to giving woman
full and free opportunity to employ be-
skill, talents, and industry in any of thu
pursuits in which they can be mad,
available. We do not believe in womai
suffrage, because it would be subjectinI
the better part Of the sex TO the contro
' of the inferior; nor do we believe in tn
? ~practieability OF making soldiers o
sailors or carpenters or blacksmiths &
women. But they have already vindica
ted their own qualifications to make th
best Of teachers; common sense and goo
I taste alike indicate the peculiar proprit
ty of their practising certain branches q
least Of the medical profession; and "
: can conceive no reason better than sc
fish jealousy or stupid and vulgar pref
dice for excluding them from the priv
-, lege Of employment as bookkeeper
d clerks, journalists, pointers, TELEGRAPH
b lists, etc.
2 AS regards the relative duties and r
sponsibilities of man and wife, the statu
Of woman in the church, and her polit
= cal position in the State, we beliey
d them to have been long since determine
i by nature, revelation, and the exper
ence of mankind, but within the Limit
tons imposed by all these there is a wid
= field for warfare against abuses aud pr
t JUDGES, and for the cultivation of Who'll,
some and beneficent reforms, aud we II
o joice to see ladies' Of character, culture
4 and refinement, like Mrs. Meriwethe
d engaged in it, although we may not Ell
tirely agree with all her opinions.