The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1914-07-24

Lakeland, Fla. July II, 1914.

49, 4DC ~ N1A
The husband and children are hap
by and busy with work and play. The
domestic machinery is thoroughly
oiled and buzzing mersily along, so
this Household queen" feels justified
in removing her crown fthe dust cap,'
and in placing her scepter (the
broom) In its place behind the kitch-
en- door, for the enjoyment of a pleas
ant little chat with Bro. Ballot.
After replying to your first article,
Bro. Ballot, with a feeling of having
done M duty, ! dismissed the sub
ject from my mind, and went about
my daily tasks.
Last week, however, my attention
was called to a second article from
your inspired pen-a reply to my
poor effort, and, as it seems, a chal-
lenge for further discussion. So If
you want to keep the ball rolling, |
can roll as long as anybody can, for
j am only touching on a few of the ar
guments on the woman's side of the
question. There is a good reserve
fund.
A multitude of household duties and
the entertainment of guests prevented
a prompt reply, but am sure that you
viii forgive me under the circun--
stances. No doubt u good brother
was patting himself on the back, hap
by in the thought that he had COM
pletely squelched his Lakeland oppo-
nent- Not so, Bro. Ballot; when we
are beaten we will gladly acknowl-
edge our downfall, but so far we have
not heard one single sane argument
against woman suffrage. 1t is merely
parrot talk, without any thinking pow
er behind it.
First of all, Bro. Ballot, what kind
OF a Bible have you? Is it a special
mans edition? My Bible, the good
old book that has been my comfort
and solace these many years, gives
both sides of the question, while you
only show the mans side.
tGen. 1:27-2S): $50 God created
man in his own image, in the image
OF God created he him, male and fe-
male created he them, and God bless
ed them, and God said unto them: BE
fruitful and multiply and replenish
the earth, and subdue it, and have do
minion over the fish of the sea and
over the fowls of the air, and over
every living thing that moveth upon
the EARTH"
Now, it seems to me that that was
a joint rule, and that they were Gre
ated equal and with equal privileges.
They were both punished, as they de-
served to be, for disobeying God;
though I could never see why any
more blame should be attached to Eve
for having eaten the forbidden fruit
than to Adam, for he did the very
same thing that she did, and then
tried to lay the sin at her door-as
men have been doing ever since.
1t does not sound well for one to
1aud their own sex at the expense of
the other sex, but I cannot resist the
temptation to remind you that in the
very beginning of things, woman was
the leader. Did she not lead? And
Adam was not mar enough to SAL
mo-" If Eve was created subordinate
to Adam why did she not ask Adams
permission to taste the fruit and give
him the first chance 1T it? Eve be-
lieved in woman's rights. She did not
ask for them-she took them. Of
course | do not uphold Eve in what
she did-she sinned, and deserved
her punishment. l am merely prov
ing the fact that man followed wo-
mans lead in the beginning.
Many men today cannot say mo-
to the tempter. They need the loving,
guiding hand of good women to put
the temptation from them. That is
all rubbish about leaving the tempta-
AlOA III tnO way anu lOtltuS LACul IdhC
their choice. Are we not commanded
not to put a stumbling block in our
brothers way, and if meat maketh
our brother to offend, we must eat no
meat?
Have you ever read about Deborah,
Bro. Ballot-the great Deborah who
occupied the highest official position
in the gift of God and the people? De-
borah who was judge of Israel? She
was not only a wise judge, but she
marshaled and directed her vast ar
mics under the great general, Barak.
We are told that the land had rest for
forty years after Deborah stepped
down from her pedestal and took
charge of the affairs of the nation.
That is a pretty good record in those
turbulent times, for the first woman
ruler of fhOca davc