The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1893-06-14

struggling thousands. Life is dull,
sordid struggle, leading down to cheer
less old age. Yet when we try to bring
some little ray of hope, some chance,
however distant, of something better
we are told by chivalrous gentlemen that
it is against their principles to help"
The admiral WINGED. but shook his
head in dissent.
"There are banking, the law, veterinary
surgery, government Offices, the civil
SERVICE all these at least should be thrown
freely open to women if they have brains
enough so compete successfully for them.
Then if woman were unsuccessful it
would be her own fault, and the maj Or-
ity Of the population of this country
could no longer complain that they live
under different law from the minority,
and that they are held down in poverty
and serfdom, with every road to indie
pendence sealed to them"
"What would you propose to do,
maamY"
''To set the more obvious injustices
right, and so to pave the way for a re-
form. Now, look at that man digging in
the field. know him. He can neither
read nor write, he is STEPPED in whisky,
and he has as much intelligence as the
potatoes that he is digging Yet the man
has vote, can possibly turn the scale Of
an election and may help to decide the
policy of this empire. Now, to take the
nearest example, here am l, q woman
who has had some education, who has
travelled, and who has seen and studied
the institutions of many countries. |
hold considerable property, and | pay
moro in imperial taxes than that man
spends in whisky, which is saying a
great deal, and yet have no more direct
influence upon the disposal Of the money
which pay than that fly which creeps
along the wall. Is that right? Is it
fairt"
The admiral moved uneasily in his
chair. yours is an exceptional case"
said he.
"But no woman has q voice. Consider
that the women are q majority in the ma
ton. Yet if there was question Of leg
islatiOn upon which all the women were
agreed upon one side and all the men
upon the other, it would appear that the
matter was settled unanimously when
more than half the population were OPP
posed to it. Is that right"
Again tho admiral wriggled. It was
very awkward for the gallant seaman to
have handsome woman opposite to
him bombarding him with questions to
none Of which he could find an answer.
"Couldnt even get tho tompions out of
his guns" as he explained the matter to
the doctor that evening.
"Now, those are really the points that
we shall lay stress upon at the meeting.
The free and complete opening of the pro-
fessions, the final abolition Of the zenana,
| call it, and the franchise to all women
who pay queens taxes above certain
sum. Surely there is nothing unreason-
able in that-nothing which could offend
your principles. We shall have medi-
cine, law and the church, all rallying
that night for the protection Of woman.
Is the navy to be the one profession alb
sent?'
The admiral jumped out of his chair
with an evil word i'll his throat There,
there, ma'am," he cried. Drop it for a
time. | have heard enough. You've
turned me point or two | won't deny
it. But let it stand at that | will think
it over"
"Certainly, admiral We would not
hurry you in your decision. But we still