Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1892-05-11
ONE STANDARD FOR BOTH SEXES.

| JOSIAH AlleHS cnllQren nave been
brought up to think that sin of any
| kind is just as bad in man as in a wo-
man; and any place of amusement that
was bad for woman to go to was bad
| for a man.
Now when Thomas jefferson was a
| little feller, he was bewitched to 90 to
circuses, and Josiah said:
Better let him go, Samantha; it
hain't no place for wimmen or girls, but
| it won't hurt a boy"
Says |, Josiah Allen, the Lord made
Thomas Jefferson with just as pure a
heart as Tirzah Ann, and no bigger ears
and eyes; and if Thomas Jefferson goes
to the circus, Tirzah Ann goes too'
That stopped that. And then he was
betwitehed to get with other boys that
smoked and chewed tobacco, and that
Josiah was just that easy turn that he
would have let him go with 'em. But
says l, Josiah Allen, if Thomas Jeffer-
son goes with those boys and gets to
chewin' and smokin' tobacco, l shall
buy Tirzah Ann pipe.''
And that stopped that.
And about drinkin' says l, "Thomas
Jefferson, if it should be the will of
Providence to change you into a wild
bear, will chain you up and do the
best | can for you. But if you ever do
! it yourself, turn yourself into wild
beast by drinkin', will run away; for
l never could stand it, never! And"
continued, ''if | ever see you hangin'
round bar-rooms and tavern doors,
/ Tirzah Ann shall hang too.n
Josiah argued with her Says he, "It
doesn't look as bad for boy as it does
for a girl.''
Says |, "Custom makes the difference;
we are more used to seeing men. But, y
says |, "When liquor goes to work to
make fool and a brute of anybody, it
don't stop to ask about the sex, and
makes wild beast and idiot of a man
or woman; and to look down from heay-
en-, | guess man looks as bad layin'
dead-drunk as a woman does.''
I Says l, Things look differently from
up there than what they do to us-it is
more slightly place. And you talk
about looks, Josiah Allen, / don't go
on clear looks; 60 on principle. viii
the Lord say to me in the last day,
Josiah Aliens wife, how is it with the
soul of Tirzah Ann? as for Thomas
JctfersOn's soul, he bein' a boy, it hain't
of no account No!I shall have to
give an account to Him for my dealings
with both of these souls, male and fe-
male. And | should feel guilty if |
brought him up to think that what was
I impure for a woman was pure for q
man. If man has a greater desire
to do wrong-which | won't dispute" :"
says |, looking keenly onto Josiah, she
has greater strength to resist tempta-
ton. And so," says |, in mild ac-
cents. but firm as old Plymouth Rock,
''if Thomas Jefferson hangs, Tirzah
Ann shall hang too.n
| L have brought Thomas Jefferson UP
to think that it was just as bad for him
to listen to bad story or song as for a
girl, or worse, for he had more strength
to run away, and that it was disgrace
for him to talk or listen to any stuff
that he would be ashamed to have
Tirzah Ann or me to hear | have
brought him up to think that manli-
ness didn't consist of having a cigar in
his mouth, and his hat on one side; and
swearin' and slang phrases, and a
knowledge ofquestionablea amusements,
but in layin' holt of every, duty that
comes to him with brave heart and a
cheerful face; and helpin' to right the
wrong and protect the weak, and
maxim the most and the best of the
mind and the soul God had given him.
In short, l have brought him up to
think that purity and virtue are both
feminine and masculine, and that God s
angels are not necessarily all she ones.