The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-05-29
AND


pssO w shOoC AutR up0 VI Il0lthl
and social activity In which woman is
pursuing nowadays u progressive and
o hopeful course, 1t is going to be the
endeavor of THE TRIBUNE to establish
a department where these topics can
receive intelligent treatment. The
ordinary "woman's page" OF the metro
politan newspapers is a curious and u
wonderful thing.
"Do women read such slush as that2'
l asked recently Of bright Scrantonian
representative of her sex.
Yes" she replied, "they do in de-
fault Of something better. But You
editors are to blame for it. Give wo-
men something fit to read, and they
will read it. They have. as it is. to Ds
content with mere literary shreds and
scraps"
I I'M not sure that there not a good
deal in this theory. AT all events, so
far as The TRIBUNE is concerned, it
will experimentally strive to break
away from the puerllities that seem to
usurp first place in most women's de-
pnrllnents; and If the result ia what
we anticipate. all concerned will
profit. A letter reached ME the other
day which contained, as l think, much
sound philosophy. You shall share Its
sentiments with me;
EDITOR OF The TRIBUNE.
DEAR SIR: 1t seems fitting that a sub.
Ject daily growing in importance rs is the
subject OF Women's Suffrage should be
diurtuual IN fbn auvg,np,., W.. l..
general are woefully ignorant in politics.
In this city alone are many women who,
but for the daily newspaper, would never
read anything, aud who take no interest
in that beyond the city news and local
articles. They are good housewives, but
outside OF caring for their families clancy
work and gossip" constitute the supreme
features Of their existence. There are
many women who never read. Toiling in
LIES treadmill they have no time nor wish
to read. They are reached by the daily
newspapers as they can be by no other
literature through nearing Others tell what
they have been reading. Many women
read from choice pernicious literature, yet
they take some interest in current topics
ank skim the TRIBUNE, Truth or Republi-
can for such news rs they care for. These
women might be influenced by local
writers when such papers rs the Voice
and the Union Signal would be barred
out.
These are not pleasant things to say, but
it is as well to look facts in the face; and
because Of these facts the appearance of
the sermon by DR.. Robinson, and the letter
from the pen Of Mrs. Yost in the columns
OF II TRIBUNE, are most assuredly steps
in the right direction. DR.. Robinson truly
says, III women want the ballot they will
have It," Then 1t behooves who
are forwarding this movement to make
mighty efforts in behalf Of their sisters
who know no more Of politics than they
do OF Greek aud Latin; awaken in them an
interest; lead them to inform themselves
in regard 10 these things about which they
are to be called in question. There are
many educated true-hearted women, cul-
tured and refined, who have q distaste for
politics. Many who are fervent
Christians believe it would be wrong for
them to vote. Therefore it is the duty Of
those who believe in equal suffrage to
create in the minds of these many good
and wise women n liking for what they
now dislike; cause those who believe it
10 BE- wrong to believe IL their Christian
duty to vote. Educate the ignorant that
they msy vote intelligently and not pre-
sent the pitiable spectacle that so many
men do when questioned about their poll
tical preferences.
Often IL is said by members of the
Woman's Christian Temperance union
when speaking of some interesting meet
ing or convention, that sit was truly a
representative company of women who
formed The assemblage." Not as the writer
understands the meaning Of the word
were they representatives of women in
general. The WOman's Christian Temper
ance union women are Of more than aver
age intellectual ability; OF more than ordi-
nary piety. Their brain power needs no
defence. They have proved conclu sively
that their reasoning faculties are equal to
their brothers. Only their intuition is at
fault in thinking that all other
when they have the ballot, will vote Just
as the Woman's Christian TEMPERANCE
union does. II this rose-colored hope
could only prove true we should see a
sta G of things that would bring the mil
lenium on fleet wings. Then would the
Christian churches stand solidly for total
abstinence, and this consideration alone
would be adequate reason for giving
women the ballot Alasl Ali women
are not Prohibitionists. Many OF them
would vote for free whisky, and their vote
added to the illiterate vote would cause
an appalling condition Of things.
Another thing to be thought OF is that
there are other questions beside the great
moral and Christian considerations, lust
as important, just as necessary to our sue.
cpSg ms n nntlnn no ara fhaqa Aud ~han
women have acquired this royal preroga-
tive they will not be united in opinion any
more than are the men at the present
time. There are women today who fer
vently desire the complete suppression of
the liquor trafic and that Christian prin.
ciples shall prevail throughout the land.
Yet they believe it must be brought about
by educating public sentiment to o higher
standard, by the Christian churches taking
up their imperative duty; and they also
believe that Third Party votes, instead of
helping the cause Of temperance, have by
the change so caused in governmental pol.
icy wrought disaster and misery TO the
whole country. Sincerely,
ELLEN DANFoRTH HATCH.
-
Charles Theodore Murray, who re-
Gently visited Scranton, and who is a
nephew Of Mr.. Murray, the Wilkes
Barre furniture dealer, has q curious
theory that may prove interesting. He
Is OF the opinion that women love
snakes. lizards and other horrible rep.
tiles which fill men with terror, while
they scream at the sight of q mouse or
a buy. He says that IL you will pay q
visit to the Clyde pier when one Of the
coasters from Florida comes in with
its human freight of returning winter
visitors you will find u good many
small boxes containing live serpents,
small %alligators. chameleons, lizards,
nasty bugs and things Of every de-
scription. Mr.. Murray relates a o n
versation with the purser OF the Iro
quois, nfter the latter had attended a
ball at Fernandina, Fla, u snort time
ngo. The belle Of the occasion wore a
beautiful live chameleon on her
couture. The little creature was an
chored with a gold cable, and must
have been quite proud Of his position
in society, Tor he showed all his colors
during the evening, turned up red and
green aud gold and silver alternately.