The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-02-19
A BRAVEAND BUSY WOMAN
HAS SOMETHING TO SAY ABOUT
THE CONDITION OF HER SEX,
And DenOunces the Unjust and Bar
barrie Laws and Customs by Which
She Is Oppressed.
To III. Editor, of the AppeaI:

To the Editors of the Appeal;
l read this morning your article "a
Relic OF Barbarism," and in the name
of the labor women / thank you, or
rather in the name OF all thinking
women, for no woman who does read
this that feels at all or thinks at all but
her cheeks must burn at the shameful
distinction made, which you go forci-
bly present, between the vile corruption
of humanity, the drinkseller, and
women. The very class that calls this
barbaric Law into force are not one
whit worse than the criminal class OF
men who are always on the street, at
every hour, rendering II unsafe for
the poor heart.sore toiler for her
daily bread 10 pass. Men are always
making laws 10 protect. woman,
not from her own sex, but from
her protectors" Any ditfranchised
class is q degraded class, and 1t is only
the selfishnebs OF the mass OF the peo-
ple tina. prevents them from seeing
this, both women and men. recall
when first my pen was used for
women not school was open to them
TO study medicine In, not single
university or college, not single avo.
cation, save three, in the South.
Teaching, II scholars could be found,
sewing, II sewing could be got, board
ing-houses, IL boarders could be OBJ
tanned. There comes time In human
life and thought when opposition
cea,es 10 clog the wheels Of progress,
but rather to drag them forward. Now
in the great world, mutual interest
under the same laws OF property,
work aud trade will compel the same
laws and the same law-making power
to be in the hands OF women, or more
barbaric conditions will yet prevail.
We have not TO learn anything new
TO progress but to forget something
old.
Our women have an idea that q
woman who has such views on many
questions AZ have must be very I'M
popular with both women and men.
| suppose It depends q good deal on
the natural character OF the woman,
and Q woman has no necessity for be-
ing course or rough. She can say: 81
hold that q woman has as much in
terest in all public affairs as a man."
without In any way injuring her wo-
manhood, provided she has the sense
10 give reason Tor the faith that is In
her.
Women vote on all kinds Of things,
- stock-owners In railroads and
banks Some are in mail departments;
many in clerkships, and there are
thoufands who are working daily for
less pay than men, who, II they held
the same law-making power that men
do, would very soon bring such inau-
ence 10 bear on the public representa-
tives Of the people that far more
equitable adjustment OF wages would
be the result. As for popularity be-
lieve the mass OF men are afraid OF
very smart women until they come to
know them; then they rather like
them. / know that many times In q
hotel half dozen young people will
ask TO come and SIT with me, and
we have such genial, pleasant chats.
They rather like listening TO my views
on these questions from the very fact
OF their newness, since our press
considers 1t bounden duty to ignore
II entirely, OF with a contemptuous
sneer deride the women who have
been ssppers and miners for the pro-
gressive march Of women in all the
lines Of open labor and better rewards
for II. care not What silly woman
sneerB at me for saying It, but you,
Messrs. Editors, can bear out my as
seTtion. Susan B. Anthony is one OF
the loveliest, womanly, strong, brave,
generoug-natured women that live in
America. She Ia as unselfish, unos-
tentatious, sweet natured and gener-
Gus hearted as the most utterly un-
known Christian, domestic woman In
the world, and among the many
famous women who have given me
their friendship in this country and in
England / honor none more, or
love no one better than this
woman, who has deserved praise only,
yet met odium and blame alone; and
l predict that when she honors Mem.
phis with her presence the very wo-
men who have Hneered at her when
unknown will honor her when seen
aud heard. was riding up in an
omnibus in certain town once when
the man came in TO collect the fare.
This is Mrs. Saxon, is 1t not ?" he
asked, as he took my money. re-
piled YES; and l suppose as you
hand me back my money that You are
in sympathy with my work." eyes"
was his retort, II am. have sieter
who is considered very smart lawyer
and makes q good deal more money
than any Of the rest Of the family"
In asking who she was l was delight
cd to know 1t was woman we'll re-
cognised by the nation, Clara TolE, of
Colorado, and q most charming wo-
man.
am charmed now with the fact
that my health was never 80 good
since can remember, and my youth
seems renewed as the eagles, in the
power to think, work aud travel, in
stead Of dawdling away half life in
doing nothing, for my son TO support
me, thus throwing two-fold burden
on his young manhood. In time the
woman who labors with her hand or
her brain will be the most hon ored
woman. And now Just here
my ambition and that Of my
co-worker, Mrs. Meriwether, is tc
carry out a plan we have for some
time contemplated-the establishing
Of training schools, with the mos
competent instructors, TO try and pre-
pare young girls Of the better class o
workers for domestic help. In con
nection with this is q problem To,
knotty 10 figure here, but II my han,
will allow my writing, l propose +
write out series Of papers on thi
and similar topics, and this one, OF IN
proper treatment, regulating the statu
OF domestic service for women,
about the hardest one to solve.
woman may cook, wash, sew and to
for her owner and be q respecte
woman, but as soon as ahe does tn
service for another woman for hi
then che sinks to place Of such i
ieriority that no woman Is willing
accept It.
In many Northern States very maj
girls think nothing Of going TO ci
and hiring in the wealthy famili
without the iaiDtest idea OF being q
Graded. and never expect q sing