Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-12-03
Women at the Guiteau Trial.
PATER HAS SOMETHING MORE TO SAY

PATER HAS SOMETHING MORE TO SAT-.
To the Editor of THE EVENING STAR:
regret, Mr.. Editor, that the brief criticism
upon the attendance Of women at the Guiteau
trial, which l had the temerity to insert in
your paper few evenings since, should have so
| aroused the indignation ofthe would-b Petrified
am aware that the unrestrained license claimed
Dy that class of females at the present day. does
not recognize the right of a parent to direct or
control the conduct of his daughter beyond the
| limits or his own dOmicil or even tolerate the
| least admonition Or advice from the male sex.
either IN domestic, social, moral. religious or
| political affairs. and / have no doubt been
guilty OF piece of impertinence in their esti-
nation by making any alinsion whatever to
their prerOgatiyes. 1t may be an unfortunate
condition that the principles. tastes and habits
inculcated from childhood by refined. honorable
ana religious parents, should have chung to me
at the present day Nothing find can be more
| incompatible or incongruous with the prurient
code OF morals and manners which characterize
the would-be directors of female teachings at
this period, and any man OF woman
who may attempt to stay the turbid
current is sure to evoke the animadver-
sion and venom of the combined Petrified. Now
wish to say, in all sincerity, to my would-be
petrlfied female friend. that in my opinion any
woman who could sit and listen to the remarks
during the past three days of the criminal Gui-
teau and not feel shocked and abashed is already
1uliy worthy to be enrolled in the ranks of the
sacred sisterhood of the Petrified. II under
stand my wOuld-be ldpidd,Ious sister, she adyo-
Gates and justities her attendance upon this trial
| thus:
LIST. THAT it will go upon record as one of
the most remarkable in the history of our coun-
try"
In reply might mention many equally as re-
markabe trials in the annals of criminal uris-
dlction. but will only call her attention to that
OF Henry ward Beecher-qute as notorious. and
quite as surely on record-and ask if she thinks
the plenitude Of obscenity and disgusting immo-
rallty disclosed during that trial rendered it a
| lit place for female presence?
"a THAT there are women capable of regulat-
| ing thelr own movements. who consider it a
! matter of no Importance whether he (Pater) is
surprised or otherwise" This unfortunately
for the women themselves is too true. This
regulating OF their own movements, experience
demonstrates, almost daily brings some I'M
happy parent to sorrow. and the self-willed, in
dependent regulator to ruin.
Sd. ''As to disclosures don't worry Pater as
a rule we come across one every day in the
week" We do not doubt this for one moment.
| 1t is the usual result of unbrided curiosity un-
restrained by that refinement and delicacy which
should cause a woman to shrink from surround
| lngs and associations thai can develop such
disclosures. 1t is to save those who are not
already petrifed. that We wish to keep them out
| of Criminal Court.
4th. I'VE are citizens" Beg pardon my
{" O'" iICiiu. YOU are MOI CttiLeHS. lie law
does not recognize you as citizens in the sense
you claim, and nature never intended you to
| be. You are sufficiently mischieyous already,
| infcting irreparable injury upon your sex with
out being clothed with additional power to
ruthessly sacrifice and sacrilegiously destroy
the divine element implanted by God in the
hottest and loveliest Of his creations
9Th. 'An honest purpose dignifes any ac-
ton" Certainly suitable motto for the petri-
| fed. Mr.. Scoville has but to sum up the de-
fJpifnn FL
! futable syliogsm, and the prisoner goes free.
since it has very clearly been shown that Gui-
teau entertained severely honest purpose to
| Kill Garfield. 1t would thus seem that my
wonld-be hUtoidal sister is moved by admiration
| for this criminal i'm her attendance at his trial
and whilst cannot admire her taste l am not
| unmndiui of the old adage, 'De justibus non
| dsputandum."
In bidding my female friend final adieu l
beg the privilege Of advising her. as she seems
by her signature, to be yet in a sort of chry-
sails state, to exercise some Of that boasted ca
pacityto regulateher own movements in taking
| few steps backward. and make one strong
effort at least to stay this fatal process of moral
petrllactlOn. PATER, D. D. C.