The Dickinson press., 1884-02-16
A Story of Women's Rights.

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 expres-
sive words, "Indeed, Greatly" and ~
must say" or ''If you will allow me to
say," etc. And I am ashamed to confess
that I myself-the ho%st-became so an
mated as to deire to prolong the dis
cusslon instead of putting an end to it
before any extreme should be said on
either side.
Ny guests were my nearest relations
-nephsws, nieces and young cousins.
One niece was the wife of a rising mem
Der of parliament, a man supposed to
have a prosperous future before him.
Another was one of the sweetest girls l
W met. One cousin was a sister of
mercy, who had no home.ties left, and
dedicated her life to Gods poor.
And the subject over which We grew
b 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, apale little
creature who spert all her time in nurs-
ing her children and arranging her fair
tangled fringe, was our bitterest enemy,
and loud wero her complaints against
the unjust subsection of tine woman;
though l happened to k, ow 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 never to be
surprised at anything!
I was betrayed into using strong ex-
p%ressions myself. l remembered assert.
ing that Solomon's %virtuous woman on
tented herself with giving him a first
rate dinner and keeping his garments in
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 I almost shouted, I'm my opil-
ion woman's mission is submissionl'
After that they left me.
I felt too much excited to go to bed at
once, so l resorted to the calming in1u-
ence Of a cigar.
My wife died twenty-five years 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
ing off the mortgages and all that, to 90
abroad. The old church is not restored
yet. However, this is nothing to the
purpose. 1 am meditating an essay on
women in general, not on individuals,
and if the world last another thousand
years 1t would never produce again u
woman such as she was.
The cigar is very soothing. Twill only
make a few notes on the back ofan en-
yelope-heads of subjects with their
consequences arranged like a pedigree
under them. l begin with the creation
of Eve-a most important point.
Here my pencil rolled away from me,
and I think l must have fallen asleep,
and yet | should be sorry. to swear in q
court of Justice that all which followed
was only a dream.
My study had been recently added to
the house, and the shadows t1ickered
strangely overthe wide white plastered
wall that faced my great easy chair as l
sat by the fire.
1t became suddenly quite dark, then
a circle of light danced into the center
of the white wall, and grew larger and
brighter, till I saw as if in broad day.
light a scene which might have been
reflected from a magic lantern.
Ring-ring-a-ring! Oh! that indescrib-
able sense of hurry; who that has ever
experienced it does not recognize it? 1t
must be in the division-bell ofthe House
of Commons. There 60 the honora-
h1a I, ~ J1r , r-,, tact Tho c1O~o
represents the exterior, two policemen
stand at one of the doors. Two or three
pigeons hop stitily out of the way of the
honorable members.
Ring.a lingering. 1t has stopped now.
There is a pause, the pigeons peck about
and plume themselves and the police
men pursue their endless walk. A
brougham trots up at a round pace; an
anxious face looks out, watching; finally
a voice calls to the footman:
John! Sir Joseph is there"
A. tall, careworn member of the OPP
position jumps into the carriage.
"Round st. James Park" he calls out,
and away they 60.
A lady takes her husbands hand
eagerly and speaks:
Here are the notes, Jos. Now what
eve you do, do not forget65,oOo 200 and
"You are sure?"
"Of course. IS, 600, 700 and GO. And it
was the Times said so, not the Daily
News, remember that, and the date was
April %. You had put down the 11th."
eyes was I accurate about PeelY'
eyes. l have found his very words.
They are just what you want, only l
think I would make the other two
points FIRST"
II meant them for a p%eroration"
eyes; but don't yon think this one
that I have found will do better? See
this quotation. 1t will enable you to
fulfill the ungrateful duty of annihilating
one of our own side with more grace:
"sIou urge me as ajudse; but l had
rather
You would bid me argue like q father.
Or! had it been a stranger, mo- my child,
10 smooth his fault l should have been
more mild.
A psrtia, SANDER sought 1 to avoid,
And in the sentence my own life de-
stroyed.
Alas! 1 looked when some of you should
I was too strict to make mine own away,
But you grant leave to my unwilling
Against my. will to do myself this
wrong.'"
SIT will do"
"Did you notice an %inaccuracy in BIS
speech last night? He said that Lord
Palmerston's speech was distinctly Of
his opinion. Here is Palmerston's
speech on the same subject. Read it,
dear"
Bravo, jeanne! you have surpassed
yourself to-day. Now we must turn
Already! Oh, JOS, I wish I could