Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1899-08-26


s ! / !: !: !: ! !:
imZ this town became
\ vrfW lf2Hh the chief of police
WMvs 4 Would you like tc
$$S54HEA hear how it came
S<M X3SMA about?"
[\NSfgSS My host in 9
Szw,Xt1DHGoE Western city had
kg5HGs3I@N been discussing the
VN|M woman question
VI" We had attended
the session OF the Methodist Annual
Conference then in session in tho place
and had listened with great interest tc
the debate upon the admission oil
women to the General Conference.
The Conference was about equally
divided, and the discussion was stir.
ring and vigorous. My host was
strongly in favor of the admission O!
women, while his wife was earnestly
opposed to it. After dinner my host,
jokingly, said as he looked at his wife,
who had not only had the best of the
argument, but the last word:
"My good wife is afraid it will de.
grade woman to elect her to Mctho.
dist General Conference, but You can.
not convince her that it degraded the
parsons little girl-wife to make her
chief of police. Twas young man,
and lived here when the first Metho.
dist sermon was preached in one OF
our saloons. The saloon was turned
into q chapel, and quite q vigorous
society was organized in a few months.
"The town was filled with excite
ment one day by the word flying from
mouth to mouth:
"A woman came to town to-day!
'It was great event. There were
but six women in the place, and they
were a hard lot. TO have the female
population increased to seven, and the
latest conner to be a modest, pretty,
young girl, as she was said to be, ex-
cited an interested remark from every
man who heard it. The former pro-
prietor of the saloon which had been
turned into the Methodist Church en-
tered saloon when the matter was
under discussion. He WAS greeted, as
every one had been who came iyj wfth
the remark: 't
essay, did you know another wom-
an came to town to.day?'
"One-eyed Jack, as lie was familiar
ly known, instead of being surprised,
said, rather carelessly:
"'I was introduced to her an hour
ago.
"a roar of laughter from the in
credulous crowd made the stolid face
a triGe redder than usual, and the
single eye CLEAN with fiercer light.
Striking the bar with his huge clinched
fist until the bottles and glasses leaped
and clattered he repeated his remark
with terrible oath:
"'I was introduced to her an hour
ago, as I have already said once. She
is the parsons wife. She is one of
the incest and prettiest little women
your ever saw. She treated me as
politely as if I had been the Prince of
Wales. The fellow that ever speaks
unexpectedly of the only decent
woman in town had better select his
weapon before he speaks, for he will
have to fight mo at sight
'There was little need of jacks
threat. The parson had so completely
won the rough element of the town by
his genial tact and fearless bearing
that every man would count it an
honor to fight to the death for him at
the drop OF hat. To know that the
bold. powerful man whom they so
greatly admired had young and
beautiful wife stirred to the hearts
core every map who had a spark OF
manhood remaining.
'The rude shanty which was the
temporary parsonage was on the main
street, and within fow doors of three
of the worst saloons in the place. The
day. the parsons wife arrived and
moved into her new home, q street.
fight occurred in front OF one of the
saloons and ended at the door of the
parsonage. Ono of the fighters, a
worthless aud villainous ruflian, fell
against the parsonage door bleeding
from a dozen terrific gashes. The par.
sons wife had been witness of the
whole affray. As the last vicious
thrust OF huge bowie-knife ended
the fight, with cry OF terror she
sprang to the door to prevent il pos
sible what she fully believed was nur-
der. As abe opened the door, the
huge form of the desperate fell into
the hallway at her feet. His face was
white, his eyes were staring, and his
blood was streaming from q severed
artery in CHASTITY spurts.. She stepped
over the body Of the wounded man,
and cried to the standers-by:
"'Run for doctor, the man is dy-
ing
"When the doctor arrived, he found
the parsons wife had checked the flow
OF the blood as skilfully as any sur
geon could have done. She was white
as marble, but as cool as ice. Her
little hands were bathed in blood. but
she had saved the cur's life. The
doctor examined her surgery, and said:
Madame, could not have done
SO we'll myself. I presume You are
the parsons wife. Permit me to say
as he lifted his hat and made formal
bow, the parson is to be congratula-
ted, and 80 is this villainous ruffian.
A few seconds more would have ended
his worthless life. I doubt, madame,
whether it was worth staining your
white hands to save it,
""ais soul is worth . thousand
worlds like this she replied, quietly.
"T presume you are right, but I
fear his soul, il he has one, will never
be saved. He mightas we'll die at one
time - another 30 far rs saving his
soul 10 concerned. But. madame. if
You desire 10 continue your mercy
and save this mans life, you will have
to play the part Of nurse as we'll as
that of o surgeon. He cannot be moved
for . day Or two. I am sorry that