Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-03-13

he asks in moufnful numbers is: Why do
they sin rs they do? Why do they desire
to live in pleasure, and enjoy the world?
Why do they aspire to freedom? Why do
they kick against the restraints which were
humbly accepted by their grandmothers
Why do they want to go to colleges set
apart for men and mix and meddle with his
affairs? Why should they assume to write
books. or edit papers, or serve as doctors or
lawyers when men can do such work better?
Such things are shocking for the dear
brother to contemplate. He sees no end
for such doings save obstruction and un-
happiness. He, moreover, announces that
the Church and the Bible are, and always
will be, dead set against free thought and
equal rights for women.
The Minister'S Gloomy Picture.
1t will be sad for many to know that by
the testimony OF the reverend brother the
devil has o double propaganda at work in
America to-day. Owing to his handiwork
the condition of the country is alarminglv
depressing. Mark you, this is what he sees
in America:
''The public journals pandering to an un-
wholesome appetite by feeding the public
mind with the filthy details of criminal
and lcentious deeds We see a popular
school of fiction, the plots of whose books
are mostly adultery, murder, seduction and
suicide; whose heroes and heroines lead
immoral lives aud make a Jest of purity.
We see poetry which seductively stim-
ulates animal passion; dramas which whet a
sensual appetite and glorify murder and
shame; salacious. and licentious figures
used on every hand as advertisements, and
pictures imported from foreign school and
produced by growing native school, I am
ashamed to say, Of shockingly lascivious
character"
That is picture of the state of affairs. as
the reverend brother sees them, in this
country. The papers and books and poetry
he reads gives startling view of his taste
in literature. The dramas and pictures and
posters he sees exhibit measure of his
mind that rather suggests the old story of
the garter at the bottom of the proverb,
evil to him who evil thinks" He talks
like regular old Blue Law bogie man.
What concerns all of us is that the woman
is to blame for all of the miseries and hor-
rors Of this life in his opinion. Mark the
consistency: The chief sin of the woman
Of to-day is to gad about instead of staying
at home. Then he tells us that she reads
and studies so much that she is actually
gaming upon man. What he seems to want
her to do is to stay at home continually and
let books and papers alone.
To Him All Things Are Blue.
His mind is evidently a survival of the
dark ages. He does not like women who
are inspired by the spirit of the age He
says he sees all about him the "wrecks of
homes, the shadows and ghosts of homes"
the "parodi.s of homes" Slowly are dying
out the home life, the home influence, the
home training, the home religion" Melan-
choly indeed-if it were true. But to
Blue Law man all things are blue. He
wants to make the whole people conform to
his narrow notions, and announces blue fire,
the fagot and stake, death and destruction if
they don't. The reverend brother wants
women to be trained to his pattern. He
wants them hammered downinto eighteenth
century holes. He wants them to remain in
silence and subjection, as of old.
But bless his innocent souI-he does not
know that he is too late in the dav with his
talk. He does not realize that the sisters
propose to settle these matters for them
selves They know all about the serious
ness of the bonds of matrimony. Marriage
to them is as desirable and as sacred an in
as ever, but they propose to have
something to say in the matter hereafter
themselves What women need is to grow
in wisdom, and they are ''getting there" as
the boys say, with nineteenth century
smartness. BESSIE BRAMBLE