The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1877-11-16
New York World
Property in Ribs.
TRIcoTEUR.

All married men and women. as well as all
contemplating matrimony, will consider with
attention the discussion which occurred in the
Rlce Extravaganza Company at Chicago con-
cerning the tickling of Miss Eliza Wethersby's
ribs. A fall report of the affair is given else
where. 1t appears that the tickling was not
regular part of the performance, done in a
perfdnctory manner to give Miss Weathersby
an opportunity to show her skittishness, after
the manner of Mile. Aimee in the role of Rose
Michon. The tickling, on the contrary, took
place behind the scenes while the actress, clad
as nymph, was waiting for her cue, and the
person who did the tickling was an actor
named Singleton, who had no end 10 view ex-
cept his own enjoyment, and was prompted
not by the regular theatrical official but by the
instigation of the devil. The lady, or nymph,
behaved as good-humored woman who knows
she deserves to have her ribs tickled il apt to
do. She said, "Oh. do stopp laughed and
made her escape. Her husband, who had been
a spectator Of the whole proceeding, was
affected in different way. He held that, as
he and his wife were one, the tickling of her
ribs was an insultto his honor, and he resented
the act accordingly. With the result of the
quarrel we have nothing to do bat the sound
ness OF the position assumed by Mr. Goodwin,
Ine husband IN question, is serious matter.
Is woman 10 any sense the property of her
husband? Is he better Judge of what is an
insult than she herself? Is his honor compro-
missed by her actions, or is she responsible for
her own conduct and he for his? People with a
leaning towards womans rights doctrines saw
that the Iibs belonged to Miss Weathersby.
and if she did not make fuss about having
them ticBled her husband had no business
to get angry. We think this conclusion ia
unso9nd, and we are inclined to believe that
MI Goodwin showed proper sonsitiveness for
winch be has been very uDjustly ridiculed
Let US suppose case: Hau Adam and Eve.
the first husband and wife, been performing
before Chicago audience, and one of their
fsllow-actors had tickled Eve in the ribs after
the manner of Singleton, would interference on
Adams part have been Unsuitable? Certainly,
for his wife was made out of his rib and tick
ling her RIBS was an infringement of his per-
sonal dignity. Now, our first parents are q
type OF all married people, and every wife is
her husbands rib; therefore, since the ereater
includes the less. every man may feel aggrieved
when his spouse's RIBS are tickled. To put the
case syllogistically after the manner of Jo-
seph Cook: Miss Weathersby's ribs were
tlckled; Miss Weathersby's ribs are part of
Mr. Goodwin's rib; therefore Mr.. Goodwin's
rib was ticsled Q. f. ID. This is the deeply
philosophical view of the whole case, but a
practical test may be applied to this incident.
WiGuous noluing tnat tDo Wle lS 10 any sense
the vassal OF the husband, it is safe to assume
that he may be more sensitive in regard to the
tickling of her ribs than she is herself, since
the wife invariably shows more sensiblity
when her husbands ribs are interfefed with
than he does. If an actress had tickled Mr..
Goocw wins ribs he would doCbtless,e even though
unprotected by corsets, nave enjoyed the little
llayfulness, and would have encoueaged the
perpetration of it; but Miss Weathersby would
have beeu fully as indignant over her impu-
denee as Mr. Goodwin was over the impudencs
of Singleton. On the whole, it is clelr that
friends and acquaintances should leave the
ribs of married people alone-at least coran
cOnjuge.