Sharp County record., 1883-04-12
ONLY A WOMAN.

It is an old saying, and almost without
exception, true one, that woman is wo.
mans worst enemy 1t is almost as un.
exceptionally true that man moulds the
opinion of the other sex"
Man may do as seemetb best, or rather
worst, to himself. lie nay visit and re
visit the haunts of vice and scenes of mid
night reVelry, which it would disgrace a
woman but to look upon he may be Just
as depraved in his heart and life as it is
possible for a human being TO become
yet if he wear the outer Semblance OF "a
gentleman, and moyein polite society, his
inner life is not inquired after.
Women, strange to say, will invent
thousand excuses for such "a man, while
for those of her own sex who transgresS
the slightest law and commandment, they
have only denunciation, bitter and IN
sparing. Nay, they will even stoop to
cast yet another stone at the unhappy
victim who shrinks at sight Of the right
eouSly indignant ones standing spotIess
in the eyes Of the world. These Phari
sees are afraid Of contamination, judging
from the way in which they gather their
moral skirts more closely about them,
giving the tranogressor as wide margin
as possible.
Society will interrupt ne here saying;
But women know so we'll what their fate
must be, if they break through the bar
riers of moral restraint, and set at def
ance the oonventioualues which bod Sc
olety together-Ghey know Just what the
penalty must be-" N---
True, D, untried 2hd untempted one,
standing upon the serene heights Of your
own conscious sell-seourtyl But if it be
Gods, Ew, and transgressed by man as
well as women, are they not equally guilty
in His sight? If we hurl Missiles OF
singing reproach and contempuOus gueers
at the one, shall we pet AMI caresS the
other, passing over the otfense with
gracious fol bearance worthy of a better
object. If we banioh one from society,
stunning and ignoring her, snail we not
treat the other in like manner2 Why
should one be pafd0ned land that one be
stronger, and the other, weaker one, be
condemned SO relentleSsly? ?
Many a women, white souled and pure,
hes been driven into this step by the
treatment sire receives at home. FER
heart is hungry, her life without zeot,
her hOpes disappointed, and she longs for
the sympathy and affection which is her
rignt, but which her husband, too often SO
much absorbed in other pursuits as 10 in
augurate. a home life of indifference, if
not absolute cruelty, fails to accord her.
If she h2ye children, she may lavish her
affection upon them, and thus feel her
loss lees keenly; but if not, there is then
but ono OF two courses for h,~ to pursue
either she will feed upon her OWE life,
grow sad and discontented With her des
tiny, and at last die athirst, starving for
the affection which is her due; o. she
Will seek the society, cUns,je aton and
appreciation which her nature demands,
from the outer WoFld-noJ from any in.
tenton or desire OF a sinful nature on her
part, but simply because she is woman.
and there 9he musJ have, or degenerate
into A. Iler1 III III !
physical Yolition.
tn this bitter Injustice, coupled with
the unrelenting, untorgiving spirit mani
Tested toward her by those Of her own
sex, which drives many WOMAN TO per.
dInon' Lho first wrong step, no matter
what her temptation may have been
bars every heart against tor, closes every
door Of retreat, and it seems useless to
attempt to blot out this one etain by q
pure and unfalteriDg alter life. There is