The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1883-09-22
OUR GQOSEQUlLL LETTERS.

Mgr. CapeFs Lecture on the True Dignit
of Woman n-Independence Hail and it
, Historical Curiosities-Cremat atfon-Bas
Ball Excitement-Judge Hoadly and tn
Ohio Campaign, etc.
PHILADELPHIA, September 8, 1883,
t EDITOR CHIEF:
t Monsignor Capel, the great English Ro
man Catholic divine who is visiting thi
country, gave lecture this week on tn
{ True Dignity of Woman" It was fin
lecture and he held a large audience of in
tellectual people spell bound for an hour
, His voice was splendid, his delivery yer,
agreeable and his appearance quite pictur
esque. He wore dark purple soutane ant
cape, and sash and cloak of red hue
He carried a -brimmed beaver ha
around which was tied purple cord-jus
such a hat as some of the ritualists of the
English Church wear. He was surrounded
by number of the clergy and prominent
laymen and loud applause greeted him and
scores of glasses were turned upon him as
he arose to speak. Every one was eager to
see the man whom D'Israel called the
fascinating man." Like Herr Lasker
Germany's great orator, he would keep
woman in the background; he would deny
her equal education with man, because she
would then gain too much power. He holds
the opinion that woman's sphere must
everywhere be different from that of man;
that man is her superior physically and, as
a rule, mentally, and she should always be
subservient to man. He would exalt wom-
an in the household-her true sphere-but
never place her on level with man in the
work Of the world and in politics. He would
not have her public speaker and a dis
puter Or defender of political principles.
lie granted that in some lines of intellect
ual thought she might equal nan-in novel
writing for instance-but, he thought wom-
| an should ever be reserved and modest;
never thrust herself forward in any public
place Or public work. She should remain
within the sanctity of home and earn there
her earthly laures as well as her heavenly
crown, taking the Virgin Mother of the
Redeemer as her model. "Is it notgbetter,"
said he, "to be a gentle power over hus
band Or brother, to be ministering angels
to the suffering and wretched than to be
celebrated even in the busy world of
sclence?' He spoke so feelingly at times
that he moved some to tears. His theory
is all very pretty, and in excluding woman
from politics. voting and public speaking.
1 agree with him. But how can he carry
out his lovely ideas of woman remaining at
home simply to minister unto the husband,
father, son and brother, the suffering and
tie wretched? That is very easy to realize
with the rich, but how about thu poor wom-
an who Is suffering and wretched herself,
who has no father, son, husband or brother
no bread winner except herself? Must
she go to the poor-house, depend on rich
relations or go to work? Why, go to work,
would say, even if she is obliged to plunge
INTO the stern, hard places assigned to men,
a woman can work and never lose her posi-
ton as a lady, never cease to be modest and
shrinking IN manner if she be SO by nature
There is law here intlicting a fine of
53IN and six months imprisonment for de-
facing public property, but nevertheless
there IS a great deal Of that kind of thing
done all the time. Lately, Penn's Statue
and other ornaments in the Park have been
very much defaced-names written and
scratched all over them and the police have
been trying to arrest some of the perpetra-
tors. This veriGes the old saying g Fools
names, like their faces, are often seen in
public places" was in old independence
Hall to-day and wherever it was possible
these yandals, who as a rule lay great claims
to respectability, had written or carved
their names and addresses. Any one who
hos 4,,1-- II
tlce IS, but surely it is not more common
than contemplate. The more sacred and
distinguished the edifice, the more satisfac-
ton in the act, and Isuppose the individual
who wrote his name i'll six inch letters on
the dome of g Old Liberty Bell - though he
had achieved distinction for himself and
added very much to the interest of the
place. Formerly. visitors were allowed free |
access to the tower, but so many abuses |
have been committed that no one can 90 I'D |
now without an attendant.
1t does one good to go into the old Hall |
occasionally and think over the heroic deeds |
of our ancestors and of all the great events |
OF which it has been a witness. It is open
every day, free, to visitors. The East-room.
first floor, is where the Continental Con- |
gress sat and the Identical tables and chairs |
used during the signing of the Declaration
of Independence are there now-antique
looking enough, too A glance around the |
wall at the portraits Of the signers, at JEFF
ferson, Richard Lee and others, brings
vividly to mind the scene when the great
deed was done that rendered this building
, consecrated spot. The Western room.
formerly the Judicial Hall of the Colony of
Pennsylvania, is used now as a National {
Museum and contains an interesting collec-
ton Of relics of Colonial and Revolutionary
lays. The original charter of the city Of
Philadelphia. with Penn 5 signature and the
great seal of the State attached. and Vests
inc oil painting, representing Penn treaty
With the Indians, are among the most in
eresting. Then there are autographic let
;ers of distinguished persons. old books and
papers, a canteen-box owned by Gen. Put
lan, drum used in the battle of German
own, epaulets worn by Gen. Lafayette
eapot of Webster, curious old furniture, a
chair used by Penn, a sofa that belonged to
chairs used by Judges of the
Colonial Supreme Court, spacious enough
o accommodate Judge David Davis, queer
clothes, among them some wee
,its of things worn y.John Quincy Adams
Lrms, and very many more curiosities, too
numerous to mention. In the South tower
5 the old Liberty bell that rang out the joy
ul song of liberty which has been echoed
nd reechoed throughout all the land. Be-
leath it is the verse quoted from Lev. ky:
: Proclaim liberty throughout all the land,
o all the inhabitants thereof It was
racked little, while being tolled, forty
light years ago, III memory of Chief Justice
iarshall, who died in Philadelphia and
those remains were being removed to
richmond, Va.
Independence Hall has been the scene of
.aiety as well as of trial and sorrow. One
DOM was set apart for banquets and has
7itnessed many grand one. In 1754 the
ing's birthday was celebrated there by ball
nd supper. Many eminent men have been
eceived in great style in the old Hail.
Among them, Lafayette, several of the Pres
dents and number of statesmen and Gen
rails. And too, the remains of noted men.
n transportation to their places of burial