The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1883-05-16
THE CLARION.
THE BANG" QUESTION, ETC.
Another Letter from Dr.. Smythe.

EDITORS CLARION: Little did | sup
pose, when | volunteered to shed some
light upon the history Of the so-called
"Bangs," that l was likely to call
down such shower of bangs Of a diff
ferent kind from any Of your fair read
crs, as your Terry correspondent has
deemed it duty to inaict. Nor
did in my extreme ignorance, suppose
that all the poisons and malaria in the
South could have brought down such a
shower of blows.
Now my dear madams 90 easy; am
not one Of the men who have any charge
against Adam or Eve. have founded
my morals, upon the principles taught
IN the 18th chapter Of the prophet
Ezekiel and do not know anything about
the doctrine of original sin: And at
no time in my life have ! INDUCED the
habit Of casting "slurs' on woman.
No gentleman would be guilty Of such
an ungratcfGl act; such a breach Of good
breeding or common sense ;and thcswect-
est punishment which could be inflicted
wouldbc to treat the pcrpctruator with
silent contempt
My innocent intention was to furnish
fragment Of history which happened
to possess. There being but few sur.
Yiyors of the period or custom referred
to, and still fewer who noticed or re-
collect it.
In my arm defence permit me to say.
IN no idle or Boosting way, that in my
sphere in life, my vocation has brought
me into intimate and confidential inter
course with woman, in most of the rcla-
mons OF HE, and my first Involuntary
act was to form a close attachment toll
one, which continued to the end Of her
HE, and whose memory ! cherish as
sacrodly as do the memory of INV de-
parted SISTER, daughters and partners.
ana to her, and to the principles of
honor honesty, truth and virtue, which
she taught and Untitled into nv mind.
and Its influence upon my action
through a long life, am now indebted
Tor all the character Of ANY, which II
POSSESS. ! began life loving woman.
me more | know Of the good. the more
/ esteem the sex, and contemplate clos
ing life in the same way.
with regard to the woman question -
am not IN the crusade, but would sue.
Eest that in the evolution and PROGRESS
OF human events and human affairs,
mere VIII be Il survival Of the httc,t,
IN snort that woman VIII arrive at her
true level. That She has been slave.
IRON and through all prehistoric arcs.
To the shame and disgrace Of all races
ana religions to the present day. But
the cause is not likely to be advanced
ny the lntcmpccate zeal Of certain class
OF retormers Of both sexes. There are
grave doubts az to whether our present
civilization Is such as to guarantee the
Propriety OF many changes which are
advocated by advanced rerornlers per. |
sons ahead of the age.
In brief, would suggest that tboro
ne more effort to educate our youth of |
ho1h sexes, IN moro substantial and |
Pracucal way. Less Of the COLLEGE and
University and more OF the good COM |
mon schools. An education adapted |
10 the every duties and lahors of life, |
100 many Of the youth of both sexes
educated in College aud UNIVERSITY
would overthrow the present produc.
tons of the country 4 substantial and
practical education is what tho sturdy |