The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1889-03-08
CHAPTER XII

dare almost anything, it is strange to find
women who are not content with their lot,
but demand the complete emancipation Of
their sex
American women asking for complete
emancipation It makes one smile.
was talking one evening with Mrs Deve-
reux Blake, the chief of the movements
middle aged lady, of fluent, agreeable con-
versation, who has declared war to the knife
against the tyrant man.
"You must excuse me-" said to her, "if
ask questions, am anxious to learn have
submitted SO many times to the interviewing
process in your country that feel as if had
a right to interview the Americans little in
my turn The American woman appears to me
ungrateful not to be satisfied with her lot.
She seems to rule the roost in the United
States"
'.No," replied Mrs. Blake, "she does not,
but she ought"
.sBut she certainly does" insisted.
"De facto, perhaps, but de jure, no."
"What do you want morep
"The right to make laws"
"What do you mean by thata"
1.-THE right of voting for candidates for
congress, and even the right to seat in the
house of representatives.
.sThis appears to me little exacting, and
almost unfair" | observed tinidly. "You
probably already make your husbands vote
as you please; it, added to this, you are going
to throw your own votes into the electoral
,frns it means the extinction of man, neither
more nor less, and as Leon Gozlan says: 1t
is perhaps as well that there should be two
sexes for some time longer at all events. ;
My dear lady, you are spoilt children, and
spoilt children are never satisfied
A lady. who enjoyed that most esteemed of
woman's rights, the right to be pretty, gave
me some very curious details ON the subject
of New York life We were speaking Of the
security Of women in the large cities, and of
the risk they ran in going out alone after
nightfall
81 have been struck with the responsibility
of your American Streets said to her.
zone never sees vice Haunting by daylight,
and in the evening, whenever | have been
through the great arteries of your city,
have seldom seen anything that could shock
the eyes of an honest woman In Paris the
boulevards are infested with street walkers
from O'Clock in the evening, and the evil is
much worse in London, where from or in
the afternoon a whole district is given over
to them"
''You are right" said the lady; "but If the
streets of New York are respectable, it is
thanks to us. If we had waited until the
men swept our pavements, we should have
had to wait long time. We cleaned them
ourselves
"What do you mean7"
ga few years ago several young women,
among whom might name members of our
best society, resolved upon going alone in the
evenings, and Of striking the first man who
dared to accost them They persevered for
long while, and finally succeeded in accom-
plishing the disinfection of the main streets
Vice still exists, but it keeps within DOORS
and hides instead of parading itself. If you
are able to go out at night with your wife,
or even your young daughters; if a lady can
go to the theatre alone, and, if it please her,
return home on foot, il is to us that thanks
are due. And do you not think that women,
young, good looking and well bred, who
could master their disgust SO far as to do that
which the authorities were too cowardly to
undertake, are not worthy to have DELHI
crate voice in the councils of the nationf"
/ could not answer this.
am going to launch q rather dangerous
assertion.
1t seems to mo that the American woman
does not render to man hundredth part of
the alteration no renders to her. II love
could spring from gratitude, Jonathan would
be the most beloved of men.
But does love ever spring from gratitudel
In the eyes OF the American woman man
has his good points. He insures her good
position when he Inarries her, he works hard
TO satisfy her smallest wishes, and so long as
his signature has any value at the foot Of q
check this win be an extenuating circum
stance in his favor.
This spirit of independence In woman pro
duces excellent results, 1t must be confessed
You find in America women who by their
talents have won for themselves positions
which numbers of men might envy. And do
not imagine that | am speaking of blue
stockings. specialized spinsters, disdained Of
Cupid Not at all The American woman
has always tact enough to remain womanly.
Even among the heroines of the platform
have always noticed little touch of coquetry,
which proves to me that man is not In immi-
nent danger Of being suppressed In America
Only few days after ! set foot in New
York. friend took me to visit the offices Of
the principal newspapers of the city. Pass
ing along corridor in The Worlds offices,
remarked lady writing in one Of the rooms.
My friend led the way in. and presented me
to her. found her to be pretty brunette
of about twenty or twenty two, delightfully."-
piquante. and with most distinguished man
ners was struck with her simple bearing
and her intelligent expression, and. on leav-
ing the room, naturally wanted to know to
whom had had the pleasure Of being intro
learned that this young Ameri-
the literary reviewing and
ew York World. and took up
Rs one Of the best writers on
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