The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1884-02-22
A Story Of Women's Rights.

Ii was naIf past Ii BEFORE the QOzeu
friends who had been dining with me
left the house.
The evening began with argument.
which by degrees was relieved by light
yet bitter banter. Some of the ladies
began to make use ofthose most express
siye words, Indeed, Really" and Il
must sap or IF you will allow me to
say" etc. And I am ashamedt to confess
that l myself-the host-became so n
imared as to deire to prolong the dis
cnsslon instead of putting an end to it
before any extreme should be said on
either SHE.
My guests were my nearest relations
-nephews. nieces and young cousins.
One niece was the wife of q rising mem
Der of parliament, a man supposed to
have a prosperous future before him.
Another was one of the sweetest girls l
ever met. One cousin was 9 sister OF
mercy. who had no home.ties left, and
dedicated her life to Gods poor.
And the subject over which We grew
10 eager was the Rights of women"
To my surprise, the wife Of the mem
Der of parliament, a more than ordinari-
ly agreeable. clever young woman, took
the most decided line against her sisters.
The sister of mercy only sat and lis
tened, and often laughed heartily.
The youngest and weakest, a pale little
creature who spert all her time in nurs-
ing her children and arranging her fair
tangled fringe, was our bitterest enemy,
and LOUD were her complaints against
the unjust subsection of tine woman;
though l happened to know that on that
very morning she had gone in tears to
her husband to entreat his interference
with a refractory nursery maid.
But ] am old enough now eve to be
surprised at anything!
l was betrayed into using strong ex-
pressions myself. Irememberedas sert-
ing that Soloipon's virtuous woman con
tented herself with giving him a first
rate dinner and keeping his garments in
order and the children altogether out of
sight.
The argument grew hotter. Electoral
disabilities had to be exhausted, then
the vexed questions of university hon
ors, medicine and woman's degrees.
Finally / almost shouted, I'm my opin-
ion pomnn's mission is submission1'
After that they left me.
l felt too much excited to GO to bed at
once, SO | resorled to the calming influ-
ence oil q cigar.
My wife died twenty-five yenrs ago.
Our married life lasted five years, and
when she died l gave up-pshaw! 1t
was not that that made me give up the
militia, and Parliament and Quarter
SasGlppE and tina ni,} apbonpc far nav.
ing off the mort2asesand all that, to 90
abroad. The old church is not restored
yet. However, this is nothing to the
purpose. | am meditating an essay on
women in general, not on individuals,
and if the world last another thousand
years 1t would eve produce again u
woman such as she a
The cigar is very soothing. ] will only
make a few notes on the back ofan en-
yelope-heads of subjects with their
consequences arranged like q pedigree
under them. | begin with the creation
of Eve-a most important point.
Here my pencil rolled away from me,
and / think l must have fallen asleep,
and yet | should be sorry to swear in a
court of Justice that.all which followed
was only a dream.
Ny study had been recently added to
the house, and the shadows fickered
strangely overthe wide white plastered
wall that faced nay great easy chair as ]
sat by the fire.
1t became suddenly quite dark, then
q circle of light danced into the center
of the white wall, and grew larger and
brighter, till | saw as ifin broad day.
light a scene which might have been
reflected from q magic lantern.
Ring-ring-a-ring! oh! that indescrib'
able n of hurry; who that has eve
experienced it does not recognize it? Il
must be in the division-bell ofthe House
of Commons. There 90 the honora,
BILE members running fast. The scene
represents the exterior, two policemen
pigeons hop stiffly out of the way Of the
honorable members.
Ring.a ring-riag. ltlhas stopped now
There is q pause. the pigeons peck about
and plume themselves and the police
men pursue their endless walk. A
brougham trots up at a round pace; NJ
anxious face looks out, watching; finally
a voice calls to the footman:
"John! Sir Joseph is there"
A tall, carewern member of the op.
position Jumps into the carriage
"Round st. James, Park" he calls out
and away they 60.
A lady takes her husbands hane
eagerly and speaks:
"Here are the notes, Jos. Now what
ver you do, do not forget65, 900 700 ant
"You are sure?"
"Of course. ia, 600, 700 and 66. And i
was the Times said 80, not the Dali,
News, remember that, and the date wa!
April %. You had put down the 11th.'
Eyes was / accurate about Peel?"
ayes. I have found Ills very words
They IRE just what you want, only
think | would make the other tw'
points FIRST"
~ meant them for q p%eroration."
eyes; but don't yon think this on,
that / have found will do bettel2 Sc
this quotation. 1t will enable you t
fulfill the u%ngrateful duty.of annihilatin
one of our own side with more grace:
"'Yonsu urge me as aiudse; but / ha
rather
You would bid me argue like q father.
Oil had it been a stranger, not my child
To smooth his fault I should have bee,
more mild.
A psrtia,, SANDER sought / to avoid.
Aud in the sentence nay own life d.
stroysd.
Alasl l looked when some of you shout
1 was too strict to max, mine own away
Bat you grant leave to my unwillin
tongue
Against my will to do myself TIL
wrong"
&sIt will do"
stDid yon notice an %inaccuracy in b.
speech last night? He said that Lor,
Pal,nerston's speech was distinctly g
his opinion. Here is Palmerston'
speech on the same subject. Read ii
dear. ro,n,a, -, ~. .
yourself to-day. Now we must turn"
"Already! Oh. JOS, l wish | coul,
90 to the gallery!'
"You could not stay late enough t
hear me-"