The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1881-05-23
SOME MARRIED WOMEN.

Osceola sentinel
Only short time ago, while we sat in an
Osceola store, we saw man and his wife
from the country at the counter trading.
The woman had the appearance of being a
hard working, industrious, intelligent lady.
She was examining a piece of calico or
other cheap dress goods. The clerk said,
tShall | cut off ten yards?" The pale
faced, over-worked woman turned to her
husband and in timid, frightened man
ner asked her husband if she might buy
the dress, as she needed it, and the cost
would be less than a dollar. NO" he
grunted, 81 cannot afford it,. and yet he
had just paid for great plug of navy and
a paper or two of smoking tobacco. The
poorly clad, but neat woman, subsidized
as though this was no experience, while
her rough, coarse and animal hus
band bit off mouthful of the weed and
ordered her to get ready for home
Often before we have witnessed similar
scenes, and we can never therefore enter
tain any feeling of admiration for such a
man In what respect is the condition of
many a married woman better than
slave? She works hard year after year,
and has roof over her head, and she is
provided with food; so Is the slave. She
must beg her master for little pittance
with which to buy the clothing for herself
and children The slave master looks after
such wants of his cattle without their
asking She has no freedom or independ-
ence; she dare not buy a single article at
the store till she gets the consent of the
tvrant whom the civil law has made her
husband She can have no will about
even household affairs that her husband
disapproves of; she is a slave to him in
both mind and body during his life, and
at his DEATH if she survives him, she can
not, under the unjust and tyranical laws
of nearly all the countries in the world,
sell the property which she helped to &C
cumulate, nor control her own children
without employing lawyer and getting a
special permit from the court. The laws
of Iowa deal more justly with women than
any other State perhaps, in the union, but
they are susceptible of great Improvement
This great State contains fewer tyranical
husbands, such as we alluded to- but there
are good women in Clark county, and in
every county in the State, who. though
hard working, frugal and intelligent, and
who helped to accumulate every dollar
that their husbands call their property, are
vet little better than slaves, being COM
PEELED to plead like beggars of their hus-
bands for even a few cents or dollars with
which to buy some of the commonest nee
ceSSaTleS OF HE "A SeHt4eLtdH can AWAY
be distinguished from petty, niggarly
tyrant by the way he refuses to dictate to
his wife in all the little affairs which ought
to be entirely under he control.
Apropos of weddings, brides, and all
that sort of thing, the latest important
Paris fashion, and one of the prettiest we
have ever had is that of sending flowers to
a newly engaged young lady, as way Of
expressing congratulations. The engage
ment was announced one day this week of
a young society girl, who is a very great
favorite, and the following day nothing
was done in the house but receive her
flowers | saw one of the gifts just as it
was starting away. 1t was stand of
flowers, composed entirely of Jaequeminot
| and Marshal Neill roses, violets and lilies
| of the valley On each side of the basket
was a dropping of pink satin ribbon, a
quarter of yard wide, with long fringed
| ends reaching to the floor. There were
seven and one-half yards of ribbon used
| in the two bows, and in the loops punches
/ of violets were tucked. 1t was a most ex-
/ quisite gift, but as the most enthusiastic
giver said, wasn't half good enough for
| the girl it was going to; nothing could be. y
! Considering that Jacqueminot roses cost
/ S1.25 apiece, and that they were without
stint it is evident that the donor regards
| the young lady's friendship as worth a
| great deal.