The state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1883-1893, 1885-07-23
For The State Chronicle.
A WORD IN SEASON.
Just Sentiments: EIoquentIy Expressed.

Just Sentiments: EIoquentIy Expressed.
There Is species of writing very com
mon among certain class Of journalists
in the West and North; but especially in
the at;-and grieve to notice that the
pernicious practice is gaining ground TO
some extent in the south: by which
personal rudeneSs and familiarity is made
10 do duty for wit: and these shafts, as
rule, are aimed at women. who, thro
choice or necessity have made literature
their profession; and stepping from under
the sheltering f9ls of the home roof have
affixed their names to certain productions
OF more or less poetic, or prosaic merit.
These productions may be harmless and
innocent enough in themselves; they may
be the lmpaSSioned voice of genius, or the
catch-penny verse Of mere rhymster;
their author may write, as other women
sew, for her daily bread and generally
for more than hers and she may choose
her theme as a salesman does his wares
from its inherent popularity and therefore
market value--itS saleabiIity. But once
let il be printed and forthwith Tray,
Blanche, and Sweetheart" and every
mOngrel III the pack opens in full cry and
she finds herself called by name to point
some poor Jest or distinct impertinence
Men, who would be perfectly polite and
respectful 10 the woman if they met her
personally, do not scruple in print to call
her by name with coarse familiarity, and
say things to her Of which the intended
Wit is but a poor cloak for the open imper-
tincnt speeches made under the safe shcl-
ter Of printers ink that they would Meth
CT desire nor dare to say to the womans
face.
| wonder if these men never stop to
think that the writer is at all woman
that the necessity, whether mental or
financial. that forced her into the public
arena has III no wise lessened her woman
illness. her shrinking from rutleness. from
light Jest, and familiar speaking?
And | think a poor jest is dearly bought
when the cost Of it is woman tears and
bushes.
Why should She be 50 roughly handled
whose only fault has been the writing Of
her name below 50 many lines Of printed
matter:
Have a little more courtesy, gentlemen
of the quill, and remember that your target
is Il woman ) sensitive pride and IA woman 5
tender heart, and such hearts are hard to
heal
a woman is no less Il woman, modest,
refined, and sensitive because she is also,
by the gift of God, or the ,lispensation of
God. an author
The country at large would be the
gamer decidedly if all journalists made
it the ineXOrabe rule Of their professional
life to speak and write Of all women with
the respect and consideration that they
would desire shown to the women Of their
own family.
Teach the youth of the country to rev
erence womanhood in itself and example
is by all odds the best teacher-Or my
word for it, the South will soon lose its
claim to chivalry gentle courtesy
10 women which has made il heretofore
the cavalier of nations. The courtesy that
makes the strong, gentle and tender to
the weak, for the very reason that they
are weak and cannot guard their heads
With their hands. In short, it is the old
world motto, Noblesse Olige, in free trans
latlon and the translator lives It.
| suppose these lll-timed testers uncon-
sciously to themselves are attracted by the
underlying feeling in all masculine minds
that woman sh uld never be known out
side of her own door steps, that She should
merely loo! at life from the tireside nook
behind the heads of children" that be
ing the divine appointment, Gnferentlally
for it is nowhere lecordedD Well, ! lila,
ginc the average woman would be very
glad To do 50 if she could But these same
men who object to her being seen in public
+ oFteA fail TO provide i Way by which She
\ can be clothed and fed and stay at home
too
don't say in all cases that it is 50, for
I no general rule is mfalhhle; bat do say
that If men always provided an adequate
/ support for their families their sensibili-
ties would not bc so often shocked, for the
majority Of women would greatly prefer
to stay at home. And certes, but it does
seem >uant Justice that those whose in
efficiency drove her To the front should be
so ready to pelt her with wind and trash
when she gets there. There are two ways
of spvliinG Justice, and one begins with a
prctiN and don't mean Justice at all; and
that's The sort these women | am talking
about always get, And yet it seems to
me il would be 50 easy to give them a fair
chance, and just let them alone as you
would leave a man under the same con
ditOns. r. G..