The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1895-06-29
BILL ARP'S LETTER,
He WRITES IN DEFENSE OF
NOTHERS AND WIVES.
Believes That Women Should Have the
Same Rights the Men Have.

Another woman killed-killed By her bus"
band. And another and smother, -Four nofrl-
bic murders within few days past. Mnen
will this thing stop? We don't read OF sny nus.
bands murdered b. thsir wives. ls the "orlo
getting worse? l. the devil turned loose IN th's
southern couutry? Before the war woman was
moro honorec, luors respected than she Is now
She stood side by side with her husband IS ms
equal psrtue- in everything that became we
or mother. Marriage VOWS were serious anu
solemn promises then ard they were geneTaily
observed, but now thu VOW, when ceclsed py
the minister, seems o mere formallty eod 1s
soon forgotten. Tne ceremony. the maids OF
honor, the :rousseau, the attendants and tee
fulsome description in the mornings pspsr are
Of more consequence Fast women and faster
men are married nowadays, but not mated
"Who eiveth this woman sway?" said the
preacher, and fast young man II the ga4ery
Whispered to his companion: II could, but 1
won't" B%fore the war maidenly modesty was
at premium, but now in society it !s ct os-
count. A girl must be fast to attract attention
and catch lover. The purity OF both IS sus,
pected; purity of thought and person and
hence divorces follow right along in tho wake
of marriages. They have increased largely
in late years. A suit for divorce was a
rare thing in the days Of our fathers.
So was separation, 80 we're suicides, 80 was
a case OF lunacy. Some say that these
things were as common as now, but We
did not hear Of them, for there were few news
papers and no telegraph. This is a great mis-.
take. Since the war divorces have doubled
and lunatics trebled according to our white
population and suicides follow right along with
them. The race between crime and morality
is neck and neck, especially in our cities. How
many weeping women who have been deserted
by their husbands! How many are supporting
vagabonds whom they call husband! How
many are enduring oppression and cruelty that
they dare not disclose! Only few days ago
man was tried in our court for beating his
wife. He pleaded gully, thinking to get of
lightly, and, when interrogated by the Judge,
sad be only slapped her twice. The pitiful
wife was there and the judge asked her II ne
slapped her often. She reluctantly answered:
Eyes, sir, whenever he gets mad" Does he
ever beat you or kick vou?" said the judge.
s'Yes, SIR" she said. Her answers satisfied his
honor that he was brute and he sent 'enced
him to the chaingans for the full term. A
trhing young man married tie daughter OF one
of nv tenants. After few months he told
neishbor that he couldn't do nothin at all With
her and was gwine to take her back to the old
man. Said he: ri have whooped her and
whooped her and it don't do her bit of good. "
That is the idea that thousands Of men have OF
the marriage state. Dominion on his part and
slavery on hers. Alas! for the women
the credulous. unsusp,cting girls who tied
themselves in matrimonial chains 10 such men.
No wonder we cal them chains, for the wife
cannot break them when she chooses, though
the husband can. Will the time never come
when the breaking of the marriage VOW by the
man shall entail upon him the same disgrace
that follows the unfaithful wife2 When will
woman stand side by side with man? There
wss time in the blessed past when 1t was al
most universal for her to receive homage and
protection from husband and father and broth
er and children. The idea of womln suffrage
was then not entertained. She had love and
support and protection and thai was all she
wanted. But now q sad and serious chanSe
has come over the condition Of woman. There
are thousands who cannot marry and have
neither support norpro' ectioD, and hence they
have to become bread winners and protect
themselves. They are in the stores, the shops,
the counting rooms AMI school houses all over
the land. They are doing the business OF the
men and should have the rights and privileges
of the men in secular affairs. As John Tenn
ple Graves said in his beautiful address at
Athens, the arguments in favor Of woman suf-
frage cannot be answered.
The trials of woman's married lie are aw.
full to contemplate. The pains and perlls OF
nnaternity-tbe constant care of children n in
fancy and youth-the watchfu days and
sleepless nights. The not unfreauent
loss Of husbands love when she
has her charms. The grief over wander
ing son or an unfortunate daughter. aeI
heiplessness in poverty or old age or sickness
Her liability to feminiAe diseases to which the
men are not subject. Her constant confinement
at home OF her house, or it may be her prlson.
When all these perils are consldered,Is is II not
wonder thet any thoughtful woman will ven
ture upon that sea that has wrecked so many
Of her sex?
If trouble and grief could be measured OF
weighed, there is no bin large enough to hold
that Of many heart-brokeu wife and mother.
If she falls it is nine cases out Of ten the sin OF
| the fault of a man. Woman loves attention
i admiration, praise, homage, caresses, and II
| she does not get q molety Of thess 81 nome
sometimes she looks for them abroad. This Is
her feminine nature.
But, of course. there is another side to the
picture Marriages are rot always 1alures'
| There is no godlicr sight in all nature than
consi]erate, loving husband and wife gong
| down the vale together loved by their children
and grandchildren. To them life was not
curse nor marriage disappointment Neither
money nor fine clothes nor carnage al the
door will secure copjusal happiness. Nothing
but tduty-conscientious, thoughtful duty--ano
the performance Of every scintllla OF the mar
rage VOWS will insure it.--BJLL ARP, in At
| 1onta Constitution