Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1888-11-22
RIGHTS AND NO RIGHTS.

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
sAocking-darning. Miss Strong, the
little school teacher, who had a 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.
1--WE met on the doorstep" explained
Mrs. White. 81 am out this afternoon
collecting for the Ladies' Auxiliary So
ciety of Missions. l am fortunate in
meeting four members of our church at
once. hope you will all give me some
thing"
Il don't know" said Mrs. James. II
must ask Mr.. James about it,"
mir. James should have heard the
lecture last night" said Mrs. North.
perhaps he would realize that his wife
had right to give away fifty cents, if
she chose, without consulting him, had
he been present"
lecturers had spoken the night before
upon tho rights and wrongs of women,
and the four ladies had listened to the
lecture.
lit would have made no difference"
said Mrs. James. YEARLY. Il have
argued and begged and pleaded with
him, but it is all to no purpose. Don't
] give you every thing you need? he
will ask. Women don't need money.
1t is always give He never seems to
think that have earned any thing.
have borne and reared five children.
have always done the family sewing,
and although we usually have girl in
the kitchen. have repeatedly done the
housework for months together. If
had been paid, at very moderate rates,
for the labor Ihave performed in my fam
lily. should have had far more money
than my clothing and all 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 am glad am not married." said
Miss Strong. lat all events my money
is my own. and can do as please
with it. But this miserable injustice
that is shown to us women comes home
to me in another way. lam obliged to
earn my own living. and have fitted
myself. at great expense for teaching.
II is my business. my life work. If lido
say it, excel in it. Yet am paid only
about two-thirds as much us Il man is
paid for doing the same work, simply
because ! am a woman. / once fol-
lowed, in a school. 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-five. He was
a man with vote, you see, and was
only 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 to have others hear, that lecture
last night. am sure good seed wa:
sown. and some of our people were Sc
TO thinking"
''Well, must say 1t seemed very
dreadful and unwomanly to me for ,
lady to get up and talk in that way be
fore all those people. though gran
she was very sweet-mannered, and die
not look at all like one of those strong
minded women. and they do say she i
very devoted wife and mother. But
somehow. l don't like it. Anyway,
shan't bother myself about it. l hav,
all the rights want"
Fortunate wOmanr' said Mrs. James
''What makes you 60 about collectin!
for missions?"
why, what aquestion. Mrs. James.
exclaimed Mrs. White. ..How could
Christian woman. be content to 81
down and enjoy all my religious priv
leges, and never try to help those VIII
are in heather darkness?"
That's just it. returned Mrs. james
'You are q Christian. Your soul i
safe. You have church. and q goo
minister, and all the privileges yo
want. Why do you bother yourse
about the heathen?"
MRS. James!" calculated Mrs. White
deeply shocked.
well, it's no worse than to say this
because you have all the rights yo
want, you won't bother yourself abor
the women who haven't any right,
The principle is the same. Becaus
you have q comfortable home and
kind husband and plenty of money. an
all that, you are willing that nobod
knows how many thousand women
New York City shall work for thirt
cents day. and no end of your sistel
be driven every year to lead lives
.hama hacaa,ee they can not earn en0up