The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-06-12
Silent Women.


The scientific world is now agitated
by the subject of the evolution of silent.
women Up to date they have generally
been classified with the peculiar species
known as white black-birds and black
swans. The question is now, whether
! the few specimens that are found are
signs of new and unheard of type OF
| women, or whether they are mere
freaks of nature, exceptions to 3 rule
and no more prophetic of species of.
silent women, than the Siamese twins,
skeleton men, fat women, six-leged1
calves, and other curiosities, are signi--
fcant of a race of such creatures.
Silent women do not seem to be Pc
culiar to any section or climate; nor
are they indigenous to any special local
ity. Sometimes they are found in cities,
whore people necessarily do good deal
of talking, sometimes in the agricultural
regions, where talking is mainly con-
fined to the sewing circle, or to the Sun
day noon gossip between morning and,
afternoon service. Two of the largest
cities of the country. New York and
Cincinnati, are just now furnishing the
two most perfect specimens of the new
species extant-that, is if it is new
species; if it is freak of nature, they
still hold their own as profitable invest
ments of dime museum.
One, whom we have already referred
to, is witness in will case in New York.
She is an old servant of the man whose
will is contested; and, when put in the
witness box, loudly announced her reso--
luton Ito keep STILL" not to saw 8.
word, and that it was no use asking her
anything. She sat back in her chair and
read "A Christians Secret, or Happy
Life" and shook her head, said she
wouldn't answer a question-not one;-
that she needed all her breath for some
thing else; that they could lock her up
to the day of judgment if they wanted
| to; it would not make bit of difference,
and for two or more days held out in,
her determination.
A Chicago woman has not spoken to,
her husband for two years, and the fell
| low actually wants divorce from her..
But that's the way in this world. Hun
dreds of men instead of divorcing her
would be clad to marry her. 1t is like
the two men who were telling each other
why they Joined the army and went to,
war. One because his wife never had
buckwheat cakes; the other because his,
wife wouldn't give him anything else.
The Chicago wife's only mode of COM
munication was writing notes and leav-
ing them about. Her husband says he.
would have given all he had and trudged
home on foot to save car fare, for one
kind, sympathetic word from her. He
lit her lamp and warmed her foot stove,
but no word came. He went to Toronto.
to the Sovereign Grand Lodge of Odd
| Fellows and she locked herself in her
room so as not to bid him good bye.
She would rattle dish to call him to-
dinner and then, putting hers upon q,
separate plate. walk away with it.
Everything which some husbands would,
crave as a sweet boon in their wives,
this man esteems thorn and a
grievance.
So little credence do the ordinary
minds of the country put in the notion.
that silent woman may be regular
and healthy development of nature, that.
both of these are called insane,-Detroit
Free p eSS.