Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1888-01-26
A Allegory on Wimmens Rights.

''Wimmen haint no business with
the laws Of the country"
If they naint robustness with the law,
the law haint no business with them,
SAYS warmly. "Of the three classes
that hant no business with the law
lunaties, idiots and wimmcn-the luna
tics and idiots have the best time of it,
says /, with great rush Of ideas into
my brain that almost lifted up the Dor
der Of my head-dress. Let idiot
kill a man; What of it z says the law.
Let luuy steal a sheep, again the law
murmurs in calm and gentle toue,
What OF 1t: They haint no business
with the law, and the law hant no
business with them But let one Of
the third class. let IA woman steal
sheep. does the law soothe her in these
comfortn' tones: No. il thundcrs to
her in awful accents. You haintno
business with the law. but the law has
a good deal OF business with you, vile
female. start for States prison. lou
halnt nothn' ut all to do with the law.
only to pay all the taxes it tells YOU 10
embrace a licence bill that IS ruinin'
to your husband-give up your inno-
cent little children TO a wicked father
il he tells YOU to-aud few other little
things such as bein dragged of to
prison by it, chained up for life, and
hung. and Ct cetery.'
= Methought once herd the words,
signs the female, True government
consists in the consent Of the gov
clned. Did dream them, or did the
voice Of luny pour them iuto my ear !:
a.. -Haint told YOU, ;towns the law
on her. that that don't mean wimmiu:
Have got to explain to your weak
cncd female comprehension again the
great fund mcntai truth that wimmeu
naint included and mingled in the
law books and statutes OF the coun-
try only in a condemnin and punishin
sense as il were; Though feel it 10
be beudn' down my powerful manly
dignity 10 elucidate the subject further,
| will consent 10 remind you Of
the cunsoiin' fac; that; though YOU
.mmeu are, from the tcuder soft
ness of Your natures aud from
the illogical weakness. Of your minds,
unfit for haviu' any voice in maxim
the laws that govern you, YOU have the
Of it. to be punished in future world
lest a, hard as man OF the strongest
intellect and to be hung in this world
Jest as dead A. a dead man and what
more could You ask for. you uureasona-
bic temac woman you!
Then groaEs the woman as the
great fundamental uuth rushcs upon
her; 4 can be hung by the political
rope, but cant help twist IT,.
jest 50. says the law.
Alas " stiles the woman to her
sell. would that Lad the sweet rights
Of nv Wild and foolish companions, the
idiot, and lungs Bot, says she, Ven
turing, with beating heart, the unld
aud bashful inquiry, ARE the laws al
WAYS Just, tina, should obey them thus
implicitly.
.. idiot. lunatics aud wmmin
Are they going to speak thunder- the
law. Can ! believe my noble right
ear Can I. bein' blindfolded, trust my
seventeen senses IL A:ve YOU under
stand that it haint no woman's business
whether the laws are Just or unjust, all
YOU have got TO do is jest obey EN-,
SO start of for prison, my young wo-
man
But my homework. pleads the
woman. Woman's place is home
it is her duty to remain at all hazards
within its holy and protectin' pre-
cincts How can | leave its sacred
retirement to moulder in States pri-
SON.:
Housework' and the law fairly
contempt at the idee. 'Housework ,
Jest a If Homework is goin' TO stand
in the way Of the noble administration
of the law | admit the recklessness
an immortality of her leaviu' that
holy haven long enough to vote;
but / guess she can leave her
Homework long enough to be condemn
ed, and hung and so forth.
"'But have got infant says the
woman, 'of tender days. How can |
GOT
That is nothin' to the case says
the law in stern tones. The peculiar
conditions of motherhood only units q
female woman for ridin' to town with
her husband, in d covered carriage,
once year, and Iayin' her vote on a
pole III have you understand ITS no
hin1rance TO her at all In cold and
naked cell, or in public courtroom
crowded with men,
AS the young woman totters along
TO prison, is it any wonder that she
sithes to herself:
&" Would that / were a idiot Alas :
is it not possible that | may become
even now luny: Then ! should be
respected.
--Josiah -illem's WIFE.
For the Ellsworth Ameriesn.i