The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1888-11-08
RIGHTS AND NO RIGHTS.

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RIGHTS AND NO RIGHTS.
The Difference Between Woman's Rights
With and Without tho Ballet.
Mrs. Summers Saturday baking was
finished. The house was in .apple-pie /
order for sunday. and Mrs. sumner
herself was seated in her cosy little |
parlor. mending- basket at hand. to
fulfill that last great duty of woman
stocking-darning Miss Strong. the
little school teacher, who had IA room
upstairs, had dropped in. also stocking
in hand. for friendly chat. when a
ring at the door announced the coming
Of Mrs. White. Mrs. North and Mrs.
James.
I'VE met on the doorstep, explained
Mrs. White. Il am out this afternoon
collecting for the Ladies' Auxiliary So
ciety OF Missions. | am fortunate In
meeting four members Of our church at
once. | hope you will all give me ,omc-
thing
Il don't know" said Mrs. James. Il
must ask Mr.. James about it.
MIR. james should have heard the
lecture last night" said Mrs North.
Perhaps he would realize that Iii, wife
had right to give away fifty cents. il
she chose. without consulting him. had
he been present
One Of the most noted of our women
lecturers had spoken the night before
upon the rights and wrongs OF women,
and the four ladies had listened To the
lecture.
1T would have made no difference
said Mrs. James, we;lrily. II have
argued and begged and pleaded with
him, but it is all to no purpose. Don't
! give you every thing you necd'' he
will ask. Women don't need money.
ii is always give He never seems to
think that have earned any thing.
have borne and reared tive children.
have always done the family sewing,
the kitchen. have repeatedly done the
housework for months together. II
had been paid. at very moderate rates.
for the labor Ihaye performed in my fam
lily, should have had far more money
than my clothing and MI other expenses
Of my living have amounted To. And
yet. when ask for money. my husband
always enquiries what did with the
last money he gave me-"
Mrs. james paused. out Of breath.
Il r.ln I ,.,1I- ..a;l
Miss Strong. y. all events my money
is my own. and can do as please
with it. But this miserable injustice
that Is shown 10 us woiacn comes home
to me in another way. am obliged 10
earn my own living. and | have lifted
myself, at great expense for teaching.
1t is my business, my life work. II ldo
say it, l excel in IT, Yet am paid only
about two-thirds MS much az q man is
paid for doing the same work, simply
because | am 4 woman. | once fol-
lowed, in a school, a man teacher who
even misspelled his pupils names upon
the register, he was SO ignorant. Yet
he was paid forty dollars per month.
while only had twenty lie was
a man with vote. you see. and | was
only u woman"
'.But you don't mean that you would
really like to vote?" said Mrs. White.
Yes. do; just that, returned Miss
Strong And | was SO glad to hear,
and 10 have others hear, that lecture
last night. am sure good seed was
sown, and some OF our people were set
to thinking
'.Well. must say it seemed very
| dreadful and unwomanly to mo for a
lady TO get up and talk in that way be-
fore all those people, though ! grant
she was very sweet-mannered. ard did
| not look ut all like one Of those strong.
minded women, and they do say she Is
a very devoted wife and mother But,
somehow, | don't like it, Anyway,
shan't bother myself about il, ! have
MI the rights | want.
Fortunate woman said Mrs james.
"What makes you go about 60. !-ctina
! for missions?'
why, what question, Mrs. James"
exclaimed Mrs. White. '.lIow could !,
a Christian woman, be content 10 si1
down and enjoy all my religious privi
leges, and never try TO help those who
are in heather darkness
That's just it. returned Mrs. James
:You are Christian. Your soul !.
safe. You have church. and a goot
minister. and all the privileges 20,
want. Why do you bother yoarsel
about the heathcn?"
Mrs. james," calculated Mrs. White
deeply shocked.
well, it's no worse than To say tha
because you have all the rights yo,
want. you won't bother yourself abou
the women who haven't any rights
The principle is tho same. Bccaus
you have comfortable home and
kind husband and plenty Of money, an,
all that. you are willing that nobod.
knows how many thousand women Il
Now York City shall work for thirt,
cents day, and no end Of your sister
be driven every year to lead lives 9
shame because they can not earn enougl
to keep soul and body together other
wise2'
II never thought of it in that light.
faltered Mrs. White.
Tho question comes home to me i
another way" said Mrs. North: Her
am, deprived of my husband. wit
scanty means. and a son and daughtc
to bring up and educate. My littl
property is taxed to the utmost. ] mus
pay my taxes, but ! have no voice i
!. the disposition Of the money. My SO
Is growing up. Saloons tempt him o
every side. but ! can not vote to- hav