Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1888-01-26
WOMAN'S DEPARTMENT.
c TYRANNY.
rh- Pew who LEAD the Maya Species
OF Tyranny which Estsrs bnto All this
Relations Of life.

The Pew who Lead the Maya Species
of Tyranny which Eaters Into All the
Relations Of Life.
While the question Of the equality of
man and woman continues to occupy
at least one-half II the public mind,
there j. n point in connection with il
Of which IL might be wei 10 say a word.
Woman's right 10 DE- considered mans
equal in@very respect. | think second
to another. which she shares with him.
and which he himself does not appear
Ia value.
This. the heritage Of every human
being. u freedom. Il IS really aston
ishing that men and women. who viii
sacrifice 50 much and hight So teua-
ciously for certain indefinite rights.
should remain blind Ia the fact Of their
own slavery TO a social tyranny Of the
r~etticst kind. There i no yoke SO irk-
some ~ that II fashion in little things.
nothing which adds 50 greatly to the
daily burden II life as obedience 10 the
dictates Of hat impcrsonal tyrant who
mas usurped the place Il Mrs. Grundy.
and who more or less e~nslavcs the en-
tire population Of every village, town
and city.
Everywhere. the mass of men and
women are suhjugated BY the few.
One or two leaders regulate the fash
ions for a set. aud the remainder. like
sheep. follow the leaders. This in
detinable yoke enters into all the rela-
tions Of life. regulates every detail,
from the arrangements Of a wedding
TO the patterns of china or the num-
Der Of courses served at a meal. It
establishes the time of our meals. In
some towns every one dimes late. in
Others every one takes dinner 1T
twelve. 1t is the way" and so in
every thing. No matter whether
fashions suit US or not. we bow to
them. men just rs mech ~ women.
doing ~ Our set does with the full
est c~omplaeency and the satisfaction
of a good conscience.
Not 10 amplify. | would only sug-
gest. that when men aud women are
sufficiently honest To assert their right
To absolute freedom in every thing. To
freedom IF opinion or of idea in rela-
ton To minor matters. to think for
themselves (what not one in twenty
does) upon religious, literary. social
n political matters. to read books.
not because they are talked about
and everybody reads them. but for
their intrinsic value. to have their own
opinion about them md not adopt that
Of the critic. to - even without gloves
when every Que else wears them, To
do as they like when no principle Is in
volved, and as they individually think
right. when il is a matter of principle.
then they will be free; and. being free.
with the absolute freedom of mind
which is every ones right. men aud
women will stand upon the only pos
sible platform of equality the equality
Of thought. 1t Is very well to claim
freedom of opinion and equality of
rights: but neither is possible until
women rs individuals think for them
selves and act in small as well rs in
great matters in accordance with their
own opinion, based upon their own
actual Thought. instead of accepting
the thoughts and opinions Of others
~realy-maIe
This applies to the graycst qucs-
tions. Is Of political suffrage. and To
the smallest details or everyday life.
Let u all strive L free our minds from
the tyranny Of social leaders. and to
think for ourselves. Then we shall be
in equal enjoyment with men OF the
ouiy possession that can make life
what it ought To be-ahsolute freedom
OF thought and opinien.-Jaaet E
HaHfz-Rees. IN Hoa,aH's Journal.