St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-02-28
A Reply to Observer.

|
To the Editor of the Globe:
Doubtless the intelligent women Of St.
Paul, who have learned to take a calm view
| of the world and the manner in which it
joys on, were amused rather than irrtated
! by the letter from your correspondent on
Marriage-Divorce, which appeared in We'd
nesdays GLOBE.
Howmuchsoever Observer, in his efforts to
appear broad-mnded, may have endeavored
to conceal his prejudices, his communica-
ton leaves little room for doubt that his
mind is still dominated by the ecclesiastical
! spirit, the tenor of which has ever been to
find in woman convenient scapegoat upon
which to heap the sins of the world.
After having made the startling announce
ment that marriage is not 4 new thing I'M
der the sum-" your correspondent goes ON to
state that its estate was once well under
stood and was happy, that human nature has
not changed, etc, etc, and then asks
"V'hat is the cause of this discontent?n
| Whereupon, true to the ecclesiastical spirit,
he Immediately proceeds to arraign mothers
at the tribunal of masculine standards of
womanhood for having failed in the perform
ance Of the duties connected with their sa-
cred office.
That the Romans "appear to have been as
powerful, just and wise" as any people of
which we have accurate knowledge cannot be
doubted; neither do ] question your cores
pondents wisdom in concluding that mar
risge should be a civil con tract, and that our
divorce laws Should be less stringent. The
point at issue does not lie in his conclusions
upon these subjects, but is found in the an
swer to his question relative to the present
disturbed condition of the marriage state:
''What is the cause Of this discontenti"
For nearly nineteen hundred years man
has assumed the somewhat arduous task Of
instructDg woman in the special duties and
functions Of womanhoOd aud, as under the
Christian system womanhood, independent
Of the relations which women sustain toward
men, has never been recognized, these noble
efforts have been directed exclusively toward
the task of fitting women for the Office Of
wife and mother. Upon the subject Of the
proper performance of these duties
women have received instruction in
season and out Of season, while
the "Diyiue mind" in all its minutest rami-
fications has been duly amplifed and elu-
cidated concerning the true uses Of women
and the activities which lie within the bound
airy OF their proper sphere. The interpOsition
Of Nature, at any iuncture in the past de
yelOpInent Of women, would have involved
more risk than cautious man could afford 10
take; yet, notwithstanding all the sOiicitude
which has been manifested, and the efforts
both human and divine which have been ex-
pended on her TO make her Just such a crea-
tgre as man might delight "to have and
to hold" woman, according % your cor
respondent, Is deiusiou and a snare--a
faiiure--a fraud made ~ for the most part
Of cotton, bangs and stays, and as OF old, is
continually practicing her art Of deception
on innocent man: and although she has
been developed under a thoroughly mas
cuine system Of training, she has marrow
little chest in which every bone is visible"
skinny arms which resemble ''brOomsticSs,"
and / dare say she has weak back;
at any rate she IS altogether ''unGt,
physically ana morally, u be either
wife or MOTHER while CorneHa
"a pagan, is pointed out as an example Of
womanbOOd in every way worthy CT emuIa-
ton.
the wisdom Of men. concerning women, Is
plain, yet DOUBT II those who have been
foremost in prescribing w0man's sphere are
ready 20 acknowledge TIER blunder
presume il has never occurred 70 the
mind Of your correspondent that the seDsu-
Gus and unnatural Interpretation Of the dn-
ties Of women. and the false estimates which
have been put upon wonaBbood. are IN any
way connected with the uneasiness which, al
the present time. i manifested in the mar
rage relation. This is an era Of mental ac-
tiTitv. superstitious and traditions = hich
we're suited 20 z r1Ier age are rapidly dying
out. Women are beginning TO believe in
personal liberty and a republican form Of
government in the family; and il there "a
ANYTHING in manhood outside Of fatberhood
and the Office u husband, they knox that IN
zomanhOod there ia also something outside
tie duties d wife and mother. Besides.
ther are beginning 70 question the truth Of
the proposition that motherhood is ''high
and hoiy' Office, especially as its constant