Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1888-01-19
WOMAN'S DEPARTMENT.
w,MMEN.s RIGHTS


W1MMEN'S RIGHTS.
=. . AlieEery By Josiah Alien's Wlfe-A
Vivid Picture.
ssWimmen haint no business with
the laws of the country"
''H they haint no business with the
law. the law haint no business with
them" says /. warmly. ''Of the
three classes that haint no business
with the law-lunatics. idiots and
wimmen-the lunatics and idiots have
the best time of it, says !, with a
great rush of ideas into my brain that
almost lifted up the border of my
head-dress. LET q idiot kill a man.
what of it?' says the law. Let luny
steal sheep; again the law murmurs
in calm and gentle tone: What OF
it7 They haint no business with the
law. and the law kaint no business
with them But let one of the third
class-let u woman steal a sheep
does the law soothe her in these COM
fortin' tOnes2 No; it thunders to her.
in awful accents: You haint no bust
ness with the law, but the law has a
good deal of business with you, vile
female; start for States prison. You
haint nothin' at all to do with the law,
only to pay all the taxes it tells you
to; embrace a license bill that is ruinin'
to your husband; give up your inno-
cent little children to a wicked father
if it tells you to. and a few other little
things. such rs bein' dragged off to
prison by it, chained up for life. and
hung. and ct cctery."
'..Methousht 1 once heard the
words. signs the female. True govern
ment consists in the consent of the
governed Did 1 dream them. or did
the voice Of luny pour them into my
ear?
"'Hain't l told you.' frowns the law
on her. that that don't mean wimmin?
Have gotto explain TO your weakened
female comprehension again the great
fundamental truth that wimmen hain't
included and mingled in the law books
and statutes Of the country only in a
condcmnin' and punishin' sense. as it
were? Though feel it to be a bendin'
down my powerful manly dignity to
.elucidate the subject further. will
consent to remind you of the consolin'
fact that. though you wimmen arc.
from the tender softncss of your ma
ture and the illogical weakness of your
minds, unfit from havin' any voice in
maxim the laws that govern you. you
have the right and nobody can de-
3wive you of it, to be punished in a
future world jest rs hard as man of
the strongest intellect and to be hung
in this world jest as dead as dead
man; and what more can you ask for,
you unreasonable female woman youP'
"Then groans the woman as the
great fundamental truths PUSHES upon
her: Il can he hung by the political
rope. but l can't help twist it,
Jest SO. says the law.
.'.Alas!' slthes the woman to herself,
'would that l had the sweet ishts Of my
wild aud foolish companions. the idiots
apd lunys! But says she. venturing.
with a beating heart. the timid and
.',ashful inquiry. are the laws always
gust, that l should obey them thus inn
Idiots! lunatics! and wimmin! Arc
they goin' to speak?' thunders the law.
Can believe my noble right ear? Can
i. bcia' blindfolded. trust my seven
teen senses? I'll have you under
stand that it haint no woman's bust
ness whether the laws are just or UNI
just. all you have got to do is jest to
obey EN-. so start off for prison. my
young woman
:" But my housework.' pleads the
woman. 'Woman's place is home; it
is her duty to remain at all hazards
within its holy and protectin' pre-
How can l leave its sacred
retirement to moulder in States
P,ison?
+" 'Houscwork: and the law fairly
yells the words. he is SO filed with
at the idee. 'Housework!
Jest as if Homework is goin' to stand
in the way Of the noble administration
of the law! l admit tho recklessness
ani immortality of her leavin' that
holy haven long enough to vote; but 1
guess she can leave her homework
long enough to bc condemned and
hung and SO forth
80 But have got infant says the
woman. of tender days. How can
.Eo7'
: "That is nothin' to the case says
The law. in stern tones. The peculiar
conditions Of motherhood only units
q female woman from ridin' to town
with hcr husband. in . covered CIR
riage. onco year. and layin' her vote
On pole. I'll have you understand
it's NO hindrancc to her 1t all in a
cold and naked cell. or In a public
crowded with men,
''As the young women tottcr along
to prison. is it any wonder that she