Year: 1877

Probably not-who is: If she sue
ceeds In being as good as the average.
that should be satisfactory.


They were women. disseeting another
woman in action, word, dress, walk.
and expression. After going over the
circumstautial evidence-havino no
other-they rendered the above verdict.
Just what they had decided they did
declare. They left nice margin for
the worst constructions Every one
was allowed TO follow the bent Of ones
sweet will, and adduce the most wicked
and interesting conclusions. Mysteri-
Gus naughtiness Is so facinating.


They did not say mueh-but 1t was
the expression-that sweep of the eye
lid. that turn of the lip. the swapping
together of the jaws, that would be as
silent as the grave rather than swing on
their hinges TO disclose the monster of
disgrace they might expose


IL was the old locking of the barn
door after the robbera had taken the
highway with the steeds


So she was no better than she ought
to be,


They were strangers to me, those
women. and so was the subject" they
had presumed to lay bare, to haggle
with their sharp knives Of ridicuie.
slander, and scorn, for their cruel little
probes of inference, polished hints, mods
and glsnces.


Ilonged to champion the cause of the
.,h rntN 80
herself. aud to cry shame upon the idle
babble that might ferment into vilest
venom. Not that any direct accusation
had been made in all their investiga-
tioDs; and that was the very fact that
made them all the more deserving Of
rebuke.


There is something fair and honora.
vantage Of ambush and trickery. though
the cause be unworthy. An open field
and equal arms.


If any one has anything to say, let it
be said frankly. so that it may be met
squarely This sending arrows from
hiding-places upon the character Of an
other is even worse than the wrong
they seek TO hit


Even the truth need blush with
shame at times 1t is not necessary al
ways to tell all one knows Candor has
been known to be highly spiced with
spite, malice. aud self-glory i'll disclos-
ing the faults Of others. It's sorry
method Of information. aud is the most
perfect school for graduating those
folks mot so good hs hey ought to be"
in whatever questionable course they
may select Truth is pitiable in the
dress Of traitor and poltroon. If truth
may then be modest and kind. why
should this half saint. half sinner sys-
tenn, as if seeking to cover while seek
ing to publish. be called less than NAL
iciOus defamation. and treated as such.
or worse? With long road and free
rein. fancy is liable to indulge mad,
happy gallop to the most absorbing.
startling may be."


This art of executing the cup d etat
gracefully. may reap down regulations
as rapidly rs the patent machines cut
the grass or grain, and nobody impli-
Gated


Alas that in this elevation Of wo-
mankind" we will retain the stone of
excepting the sex down" on our own
heads, and 50 retard that upward
growth into higher atmosphere. To
day woman is afraid of woman.
They expect neither sympathy or for
givencss from each other. We are too
fond of ugly insinuations We are too
ready 10 detect flaws in each other.
All! let us turn over the new leaf AID
be good to each other


Suppose there is an actual error. Let
no woman's hand throw the first stone.
Who might not have done worse in her
position under the same influences?
Untried innocence can beast no merit.
Who would not be pure and stsnnch
with no earthly opportunity to be 9TH
erwisel The purest, best, most divine
way in the dark night of temptation,
since mor.als are human. The bad
ones ere not the most selfish and mar
row-minded. Some folks may be bet
ter than they would be. because it is
safest. Goodness is then prompted
by selfishnees and shrewdness.


"Yes. let us be good to each other,
and ask for nothing else under the sun
for ourselves until every woman's honor
is dear 10 the others. Let us handle
each others failures delicately, and bid
good cheer to every womanly success.
Let none Of us pry open the door of
another womsn's closet. and call the
world to view her skeleton. Let each
look to herself that she is as good
as she ought 10 be. and there will
be less occasion TO comment upon
ot hers