The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-02-01
WOMEN WHO PAY THE PRICE.
Must Suffer Consequences If She Fails
to See Danger Sign.

A middle-aged woman killed an old
| man in Washington, because the old
man had tired of her and Of the two
| children she had borne him without
the sanction of the marriage cere-
mony.
A young woman killed a young man
in Boston because the young man was
tired of her. and had married a newer
and prettier and a wiser woman.
I do not sympathize with, nor pity
in the least degree, either of the men
simply the wages x, which they had
carefully earned by their methods of
life. Neither, however, can i find it
in my heart to sympathizea too much
with either of 7the women in these
cases. uL Suzcis-t q.
They, too. received simply the
wages of the sort of life they chose to
| lead.
What does a woman expect when
| man tells her that he loves her so
much that he will do anything in the
world for her-except marry her?
If he loves her so dearly, why does
he turn pale and hint at important
business which will call him out of
town the very moment the poor wo-
man, who is trying to make herself
believe him, mentions a. wedding ring?
A woman sued a western city for
damages the other day, because she
fell into an opeH sewer IaradTbF9ke her
shoulder. s4s EsSs4EE
The city proved that the open sewer
was guarded on both sides by a large
sign, which said: Danger! Keep
away!" in big letters. and the woman
lost her suit.
She said in court that she could
read, but that she was thinking of.
something else as she walked toward
the sewer and did. not stop to look at
the sign. Every one in the court room
felt sorry for the woman, for she was
nj hRlDlGSS
one questioned the justice of the YER
dict against her.
The city had put up the sign; 1T was
her own fault, or, at least, her own
and protect herself.
Common sense, that great safeguard
of a woman's reputation. has put
danger sign a mile high all around
every man who asks a woman to love
him and forgetss to ask her to marry
him.
If the woman is so ignorant OF so
stupid that she can not see the sign,
she will have to abide by the conse-
quences. cruel and unmerciful though
they be.
who will throw away her good name
for a man, let him make a toy of her
for years, bear him children in an
guish, stand by him through sickness
and adversely, and still expect that
some day, some time, he will marry
her. Why should he marry her?
When she has already given him her
life, her good name, everything, for
nothing, why should he pay her for it
with the protection of his name? He
ought to? Well, perhaps he ought,
but were not talking of things as they
should be, but of things as they are.
The sort of man. who will accept
such a terrible sacrifice from a wo-t
man is not the sort of man who will
stand by her when she needs him.
The sort of woman who will make
such a terrible sacrifice for man just
because she imagines herself in love
with him, should stand by the prin--
ciple she tries to believe she is follow
ing, and when it comes time to take
her medicine, take it and say no more.
What is lightly gained is lightly
held, my poor sister, whose heart is
aching with the humiliation of finding
yourself deserted for a woman who is
not SO easy to get as you have proven
yourself to be.
A man who is worth all this misery