Claiborne guardian. [volume] (Homer, La.) 1877-188?, 1880-10-13
Women's Wrongs.

MOIb mtidHCHOIy anu Impressive
lessons have rarely been conveyed
In moro tragical forms than two
Of recent occurrence, wherein two
young American women proved the
victims OF mans treachery and of
the injustice and cruel severity of
public sentiment towards "crring
sisters"
OEe Of these OccuEed at Danvillc,
Virginia. The young woman was
Of y prominent aud once wealthy
family in Virginia, where the pride
of family and of ancestry is cher.
ished aud nurtured with great
tenacity and ardor. The young lady
had been we'll educated anil trained
10 the path of virtue and modest
department. Her family, like hun.
dreds Of others in the South, had
been reduced to poverty, and she
was compelled to seek employment
and support in some humble capa.
city in wealthy family. In this
position, according to her dying
confession, she became the victim of
the wiles and false promises OF mar.
riage by the son Of her employer.
The severe judgment OF men towards
women involved in the sad consc.
quences of such weakness in woman
and of such treachery in man, leaves
the poor victim no other alternative
but exposure of an objectionable
and incapable sin in the woman.
and the shame and humiliation of
her family and friends, through any
attempts to punish the wrongs done
her, or in that last sad and sinful
release from perpetual persecution
and torture of self destruction.
Either penalty is regarded in the
view OF Christianity as harsh. cruel
and unjust. Why should woman
be denied the privilege claimed 10y
SHINING men of repenting and atom.
ing for misconduct, sin and crime
Our Saviour conveyed an impressive
lesson Of the spirit Of the religion
which He taught in His memorable
injunction to the poor pcnitent adul.
teress, "GO and sin no more" And
yet, in this Christian society of ours
the prevalent temper of an age aud
civilization denies all such charity,
and withholds all hope and en-.
enlargement from females pcni
tently seeking to reform their lives
and regain the position from which
they have fallen.
Public opinion justilics the prompt
and severe punishment of the man
whose falschood and passion have
brought this sad fate on woman,
but that does not restore the Door
victim TO her original position or
modify the severe conditions of her
exclusion from all charitable and
sympathetic aid and encouragement
to reform and reclamation, hich
the founder OF our religion embodied
in his warning to the poor woman
"caught in adultery
In the Virginia case, the penalty
fell upon the woman alone. Her
brother, by invitation of the sister
who sought his counsel and aid to
rescue her from II life of shame
repaired TO her room, and there con.
fronting the sister proceeded, with
cool and savage purpose, to dis
charge SIX barrels OF Il revolver into /
her body. The scenes which fol /
lowed, of the poor woman begging
The forgiveness and justifying the |
action of her brOthcr-confcssin
her sin, aud declaring her hope that
BY her death her family would be
of the shame and humila
lion Of her misconduct. were of the
most touching character. On tins
testimony the brother was con
ficted, by a jury, of murder in the
irst degree, but was recommended
o mercy.
In tho other case. of an American
woman, who made the atonement of
Ter life, for her sin and weakness.
n yielding to the false promises
lnd evil designs of u heartlcss
'illain, the desperate remedy of
ulclde was resorted 10.
A Young married woman, of re.
'pectable family, in New York,
FAMED Wetmore, abandoned hus.
'and and family and surrendered
o the Establishments and deep
hypocrisy OF Il titled rOue of the
Anglesey and Paget family. Under ;
PROMISES of marriage to Paget, she I
'btai3ed or submitted to a divorce ,
rom her lawful and honest Ameri.
m husband. :
It was evident that the young /
roman had been victimized by a too {
rovalent weakness of American :
,OnnAo -hn rrnLo A. Pc