The Washington weekly post. (Washington, D.C.) 1878-1916, 1900-03-06

AAtE AAbiAA anu Allt illEiltdEN tADfIAS LDI
don seem 10 have come 10 the conclusion
that Dom Paurs "staggerer' was nothing
more nor less than his determination tC
put rifles in the hands Of the Boer women
TO defend their homes.
| 1t therefore becomes an interesting mat.
| ter for speculation as to what effect such a
move would have not only upon the en-
| envy. the British, but the rest of the
world. Some Of the English papers, in
| commenting-on the rumor are disposed to
/ credit il as a shrewd move Of the willy old
| burgher to enlist the sympathy OF the
! world and to bring about intervention. II
| is assumed that the civilized world would
| hold up its hands in horror at such a spec
| tacle and that such an outcry would be
| raised as would cause England to stop
| hostilities at once.
Thinks Women Would Fight.
Mr.. f. X. Bishop, who is now in Wash
! ington, a refugee from the Rand, where
he was engaged in mining when the war
| broke out, says: Il have lived i'm South
! Africa since 1885, and think / know the
| Boer character fairly well. You ask me,
VIII the women actually fight% | an
| sWer, L believe they will. They are quite
capable of it. To the American who is
| familiar with the character of the real
western frontier woman CT our country,
the idea will not seem so strange. Like
her sisters OF CORNER years in the border
land or civilization in this country the
Boer woman Of to-day is used TO a life
full OF labor. privations, and perils. She
mas learned to be self-reliant and knows
now 20 shoot. She has stood off the
black savage with her rife when her hus-
band was away on the veldt. Why should
she not turn her skill as markswoman
against a white invader of her home2
What the English would do under such
circumstances seems to be even more
certain, judging from past history and ma
tlonaI characteristics. With all their
boosted civilization. it is a sad fact that
consideration for the weaker sex Is not a
characteristic Of Englishmen. Indeed
the charge has been made with much
evidence 10 back it up that the English
are nation Of wife-beaters."
Certainly. among the lower classes of
Englishmen wife-beating is so common
and notorious as to have become the sub
ject of serious consideration on the mart
OF many humane and reform societies
British soldiers would not be Ienient unon
the BOer women. which is not surprising
as Boer women would have no hesitation
in killing British soldiers.
Should the Boer women revert to his
tory they would find that in one notable
instance, when English valor was pittad
against the genius OF women in warfare
sex was not barrier to vengeance. Joan
OF arc paid the penalty for her temerity
at the burning stake. Then let the Boer
women beware
What the outside world will do if the
Issue should rfc &c
speculation The world easily gets accus-
toned to horrible things.
Although the world of TODAY seams IN
nave experienced primary shock at the
thought Of women going TO war. history
shows that it is no novelty. Since the
mythical AmaZons spread terror to the
Gracian hosts, women have always taken
more or less active part in war. The
case of French Joan was perhaps tho
most notable individual instance within
the scope of authentic history. Coming
down 10 later times. and even in in
stances where the people of this country
were interested, women have borne a con-
SpicuOus part in warfare Elizabeth r
Ellet has written a highly interesting
ana instructive story as TO the part which
American women, like Molly Pitcher
played In the Revolution of l776. In the
EANNtNiil5 anu subsequent troubles with
the Indians, the American pioneer wo-
man bore herself with a fortitude which
should challenge the admiration of the
world. NV
Coming down to later times. there are
more DEFINITE records of wOmen's valor
Wheh the causes they held dear were SUBJ
mitted 10 the arbitrament of the sword.
Women i'm the Civil War.
c. G. Leland, writing in the United !
states Service Magazine in 1865 on the
topic of women in the civil war. saws.
since began 10 make inquiries relating !
to woman soldiers in our Federal army. | |
have been amazed at finding their num- |
Der so much greater than l should eyer
nave supposed. In fact, within a few
hours OF the time at which / write. | |
have heard of several perfectly authentic
attd instances of the kind, which do NOT |
however, consider myself authorized 10 |
publish, and l have read. through the
courtesy OF young lady who had served |
n the army herself and had been pro- |
noted for gallantry, letter from a |
Young girl 10 my lady acquaintance. de-
alling her own adventures in the Army
II the Potomac. Having eontrived to
wade the usual examination, she enlisted
n company in which her brother WAS
already serving, and by persuasion in
iuced him rot 10 betray her secret. She
Ought in five or six 'frst-class battles
,nding with that OF Gettysburg. maintain
ng a reputation for bravery and never
'etraying her secret. The letter from
which l CLEAN these facts is well writ
en- and indicates not only an intense SA-
ire TO return TO soldier life. bur Also
much natural elOquence and an educa-
ion"
The correspondent of the CIncinn..ti
Times, writing to his paper from Cann
dickinson IN 1903, devotes considerable
pace 10 the case Of a young woman nam
G sarah Taylor, step-daughter of Cant
)oWden, Of an East Tennessee regimen
iiss Taylor had left her home and friends
nd cast her lot with the bows in bIue
Here is the correspondents Dissertation
# her:
Having determined 10 share with her
male friends and relatives the dangers
4 a military campaign, Miss TAYLOR has
ohned a neat blue chapeau. beneath
nich her long hair is eompactIy vet
arranged, and bears AT her
ide highly finished regulation sword
'.th silver-meunted pistols in her belt |
he is quite the idol OF the Tennessee
oys, who look upon her as a second loan
I Arc. And Miss Taylor is indeed fuIl
courage and skilled in many manly ac-
Having become an adept
. the sword exercise and a sure shot |
nth the pistol. she is determined TO ala
the great cause or restoring TO their
ONES her exiled and oppressed country
len, and 10 that end 10 sacrifice her life
need be In the cause
soldier Married Sergeant.
Another instance Of a woman disguised
a soldiers Uniform Is told by a COM
lunicAuon 10 The Washington Chronicle |
October. 1854. Private James Wise. OF |
ompany i. Thirty-fcurth Indiana Volun-
-ers' proved to be Miss Mary Wise. and