Year: 1874

For some time past the question of
Woman's Rights has been agitating the
public mind, and various opinions have
been expressed upon the subject by both
sexes. By some it is thought that if wo-
men be allowed to vote, and take an ac-
tive part in political affairs, much of the
evil which exists will be avoided; by
others, that certain ruin will be the re-
suit of such an event l will refrain from
giving an opinion upon the political side
of the argument, preferring to leave it to
those who understand it, and to speak
only of weman's S wrongs. l do not intend
to uphold either sex in wrong-doing, nor
to condemn the acts of either unjustly.
How many men consider their mother,
sisters, or wife as a mere convenience, or
a sort of necessary evil a slave to their
caprices, who must love and cherish them,
denying themselves pleasures for their
sakes without return of affection.


woman, if wife, is expected to bear
trials of the most aggravating character
with a smiling face. She must be calm
and serene on all occasions; her lord and
master is the only one who has the priv
ilege of indulging his over-wrought feel
ings by using the imperative mode. She
will sit up at night with sick children,
and go through dull routine of work
the next day without rest, while he un-
mindful of his wifes weary looks, does
not think of assisting her until she
breaks down from sheer exhaustion If
he takes her place for few hours, even
all his friends will be informed of his
hard fate. To be sure this is not always
the case; still, it is true of many, and
some whom know think it "does not
hurt a. woman" to lose her rest by caring
for sick and fretful children


l knew the case of a man who was in
the habit of abusing his wife in a shame
full manner; but this abuse she bore un-
complainingly. Having been suddenly
taken i'll, however, his hot temper cooled
with increasing Illness until he became
very gentle and thoughtful. She nursed
him with untiring devotion until he re-
covered Every one hoped that he had
now become changed man but after
his recovery his treatment of his wife was
worse than ever before. So much for
sick-bed repentance; but he was always
devoted in public, and congratulated
himself that no one knew him as he
really was.


Affectionate mothers are always self
denying, some too much so, their devot-
edness tending to the cultivation of
selfshness in their children, rendering
them thoughtless of the comfort of 9th
ers. There is reason in all things; one
should never go to extremes. Sisters
often deny themselves many things in
order to give pleasure to their brothers,
and in the vain hope of winning some
tribute of affection from them; but how
are they often rewarded? ? by coldness
and indifference. Men abhor selfshness
in a woman, but seem blind to the fact
that they are cultivating the trait them
selves. Why are men ashamed of show
ing affection for mother, sisters, or wife ?
Real genuine affection is one of the
noblest traits in either man or woman,
and should always be cultivated, never
checked The world has become sadly
degenerate there is vast difference be-
tween the men of the past and the men
of the present day. One cannot look at
a newspaper without seeing an account
of wife beaten or murdered by her hus-
band. Life is short. Why not make it
happy2 Let married people help each
other, take an interest in each other s
joys and sorrows.-Lillie B. Clyde.