Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1897-07-29

also become a star, and was sailing
through space with its glittering COM
panions. What Inhabitants peopled
those fair planets, l wondered? Mere
men and women who lived and loved
and lied to one another as bravely as
We do? or superior beings to whom the
least falsehood is unknown? Was there
one world among them where no
women we're born? Vague fancies-
odd theories-fitted through my brain.
lived over again the agony of my i'm
prisonment in the vault--again l
| forced myself to contemplate the scene
| had witnessed between my wife and
her lover-again | meditated on every
small detail requisite to the fulfillment
of the terrible vengeance | had de-
| signed. | have often wondered how, in
countries where divorce is allowed. 4
wronged husband can satisfy himself
with so meager compensation for his
injuries as the mere getting rid of the
woman who has deceived him. 1t is no
punishment to her-it is what she
wishes. There is not even any very
special disgrace in it according to the
present standard of social observances.
Were public whipping the recognized
penalty for the crime of married
woman's infidelity, there would be
fewer of the like scandals-the divorce
might follow the scourging. A daint-
lily brought-up feminine creature would
think twice, nay, fifty times, before she
would run the risk of allowing her
delicate body to be lashed by whips
welded by the merciless hands of
couple of her own seX-such prospect
of degradation, pain, shame, and out
ragged vanity would be moro cffectual
to kill the brute in her than all the i'm
posing ceremonials of courts of law and
special juries. Think of it, kings,
| lords, and commons, Whipping at the
carts tail was once legal punishment
If you would stop the growing inn
morality and J eckless vice OF women
you mad best revive il again-only APP
! ply il to rich as well as to poor, for
it is most probable that the gay Ouch
esses and countesses of your lands
will need its sharp services more fire.
quently than the work-worn wives of
your laboring men. Luxury, idleEess,
and 'ove of dress are hCt-beds for sin
/ look for it, therefore, not so much in
the novels of the starving and naked
| as in the rose-tinted musk scented
| boudCirs of the aristocracy-loo for
! it, as your brave physicians would
| search out the seeds of a pestilence
that threatens to depopulete a great
/ city, and trample it out if you can and
will--if you desire to keep the name of
your countries glorious in the eyes Of
| future history. Spare not the rod be-
cause my lady forsooth with her
| rich hair falling around her in beauti-
! full dishevolment and her eyes bathed
in tears, implores your mercy-for by
very reason of her wealth and station
she deserves less pity than the painted
Cutcast who knows not where to turn
/ for bread A high post demands high
! duty, Bat | talk wildly. Whipping is
done away with, for women at least
/ we give a wel-bred shudder of disgust
at the thought of it. When do we
shudder with equal disgust at cur own
social enormities? Seldom or never.
bands and wives can separate and so
Meanwhile, in cases of infidelity, hus-
on their different ways in comparative
peace. Ycs-some can and some do;
but am rot one Ct these NJ law in
all the world can mend the torn FLAG
of my honor, there one | must be law
to myself counsel, jury, judge,
all in one-cnd from my decision there
can be no appeal Then | must act as
eXecutioner-and what torture was
ever so perfectly unique as the one |
| had devised? So | unused, lying
broadly awake, with face upturned to
the heavens, watching the light Of the
moon pourirg itself out on the ocean
like a shower of gold. while the water
! rushed gurgling softly ag2irst the
sides OF the brig, and broke TITO the
laughter of white foam as we scudded
! along.