Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-12-10
Death Before DfshonOr,
Editor of The Evening Star:

To the Editor of The Evening Star:
Since The Star seems to be the daily most
largely read by the colored people of the
District of Columbia, l desire through your
columns to call attention to an incident of
recent date, one phase of which, it strikes
me, ought have elected the public COM
mendaton of those who are striving 10 ele-
vate the moral standard of the coiored
people. I refer to the attempted murder of
Frances Robinson and the suicide of the
would-be assassin, Hays.
Is there nothing commeEdable in the at
titude and action of this girl-nothing
worthy of lacdation? Can there De 10 in
spring lesson drawn from her determined
resolve IG grow woman, to virtue we'd"
which might with good results be Impress
ed upon other young girls budding into
womanhocd?
In ali such or kindred affairs, the fair
fame of the female is too generally be-
smirched. This is neither fair just-a
condition which should not obtain against
the sex whose fair fame may be withered
by single breath, while man, rocking with
the guilt of slaughtered innocence, is re-
ceived by all with open arms as the beau
IDEAL of the hour. r
Those of US who know something of the
social conditions which obtain among col
ored people can. in measure, appreciate
what this young girl had to labor under.
She, the daughter of q common day labor
er, Hays, the son of a popular preacher.
1t Is just such women Frances Robinson
who have withstood influence, threats risk
ed and defied death rather than be disnon-
ored who have ennobled the womanhood
OF every age.
In the Bibles beautiful story of Esther,
who does not experience a thrill of admira-
ton at the action of Vashti. refusing to
debase herself when modesty was consid
cred woman's chief virtue?
What American docs not rejoice at the
rescue of Evangelina Cisneros, with I'M
tarnIshed virtue and fair fame intact?
Neither of these women did or was aided
to do more to preserve themselves from
self-debasement than was done by Frances
Robinson, IN the face of death impending
and imminent. This girl, though unknown
to me, regard as a heroine of the highest
type.
Let the leaders of thought among the
colored people, especially women and men,
impress the excellence of her noble stand
in defense of honor on the many young
girls who yet to go through the crucial
stage in incipient womanhood, who are yet
TO run the gauntlet of temptations which
will assail them from every side. However
humble in the walks of life this girl may
be, her example stands a monument,
ccmmemorat tive of the occasion where vir
tue withstood the onslaughts of vice and
held the fort
Let the watchword of the old Irish peas
antry, Death before dishonor,'' be caught
up by the young colored women. Let it in
fuse new determination into them to hold
higher the moral standard and recognize
the truth that virtue is the most precious
jewel with which woman can be adorned.
Hoping this letter will be read in the spir
it in which it is written, and trusting that
it will arouse such thought, as we'll as
result in elevating higher than now the
RICHARD E. TOOMEY
OF Greeneville, Tenn.
December l. 1897.