The Osceola times., 1888-11-10
RIGHTS AND NO RIGHTS
ihe Difference Between woman's Right,
With and without the Bal,ot.

| ''A anu WITS. summer
herself was seated in her cosy little
parlor, mending- basket at hand, to
iulfll that last great duty of woman
stocking-darning Miss Strong, the
little school teacher, who had a room
upstairs, had dropped in, also stocking
In hand, for a 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"
81 don't know" said Mrs James. II
must ask Mr.. James about it."
"Mr. 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, 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" i"
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 a girl in
the kitchen, have repeatedly done the
housework for months together. II
had been paid, at very moderate rates,
for the labor have 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.
II am glad ! am not married." said
Miss Strong. 'At all events my money
is my own, and can do as please
with 1t. 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.
1t is my business, my life work II | do
say it, excel in it. Yet ] am paid only
about two-thirds as much as man is
paid for doing the same work, simply
because ! am a woman. i 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
man with a 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 was
sown, and some Of our people were set
TO thinking"
well, | must say it seemed very
dreadful and unwomanly TO me for a
lady to get up and talk in that way be-
fore all those people, though / grant
she was very sweet-mannered, and did
not look at all like one of those strong
minded women, and they do say she is
very devoted wife and mother. But,
somehow, ! don't like it. Anyway, |
shan't bother myself about it. / have
all the rights want"
Fortunate womanr said Mrs. James,
"What makes you go about collecting
for missionsp"
why, what aquestion, Mrs. Jamesm
exclaimed Mrs. White. "How could /,
Christian woman, be content to sit
down and enjoy all my religious privi-
leges, and never try to help those who
ere in heather darknesspn
That's just it, returned Mrs. James.
"You are Christian. Your soul is
safe You have church, and good
minister, and all the privileges you
want. Why do you bother yourself
about the heathenPn
"Mrs. James!" calculated Mrs. White,
deeply shocked.
well, it's no worse than TO say that
because you have all the rights you
want you won't bother yourself about
the women who haven't any rights.
The principle is the same. Because
you have comfortable home and n
kind husband and plenty of money, and
all thai, you are willing that nobody
knows how many thousand women in
New York City shall wc~k for thirty
cents a day, and no end of yc.r sisters
be driven every year TO lead livss of
shame because they can not earn enough
to keep soul and body together other
wisep"
al never thought OF It in that light"
faltered Mrs. White.
'The question comes home to me in
another way" said Mrs. North. Here
] ON. deprived OF my husband, with
scanty means, and son and daughter
to bring up and educate. My little
property is taxed to the utmost l must
pay my taxes. but l have no voice In
the disposition Of the money. My son
"a nrnwino I'M. Saloons tempt him ON