Year: 1873

To the Editor of the N, Y. Daily Graphic.


It has been subject of much interesting
comment here Of late years to decide what
shall be done with the surplus female popula-
ton. When stranger enters one OF our
large manufacturing cities he is Immediately
struck with the preponderance of the gentler
sex. They overflow our factories, fill our
streets, and hasten by the score to answer
any advertisement for an emplOee. Once,
the energies of Massachusetts, girl were
bent on securing husband now they are
given to getting living. Once the young
men of the Old Bay State turned their atten-
tion to agriculture and trade at home, but
nowadays they sell out their farms as soon
as the old folks are dead, and 90 West to
build railroads and concoct Credit Mobilers.
They do not so much as take wife with
them, but leave the maidens with whom
they went hand in hand to school, to live in
single loneliness and earn their own living
Thus, year by year, the roll of unmarried
women increases, and the prospect for hus-
bands grows more gloomy. Girls that might
become radiant through motherhood, grow
selfish and soured in mind, and wither and
disappear like the leaves ofNovember The
native population of Massachusetts, lags far
behind the foreign, and statisticians grow
appalled,. But the fault is not with the
women, but is due to circumstances and per-
haps prejudice.
use the word prejndice, because l under
stand there is a movement on foot among the
women Of Lowell to petition the Legislature
or, strictly speaking to present their
grievances the subject of matrimony
For some days there have been rumors Of
this matter flying around the community,
and have been at some pains to trace them
out. In doing 80, have been struck with
the fact that men and women speak freely
now on topics that were tabooed ten years
ago. Even the most refined women will
talk interestedly and unreservedly ofmarriage,
love, social evil, and oil the questions which
pertain to the relations Of tho sexes. There
seems to be fermentation beneath the sur
! face which will break out before long in an
open movement towards larger liberty for
both man woman. This is only my surmise; ;
but that it may not appear to be merely a
piece of guess work, send you copy OF
the document above mentioned. It is one OF
the most remarkable papers of the period.
It comes, too, at strange time, when
.Aosnoaisc 2 bs yielding 70 mono, none,
City is preparing to accept the high civilisa
tion Of the East. Yet in this Connection it
| must not be forgotten that work on poly
gamy was published in Boston some years
AGO. and was greeted with words Of approx
al by some of the most eminent men of the
seaboard States, including Mr.. George Will
liam Curtis, of your city. The seed then
sown vas small one, but it appears to have
taken root, and circumstances have developed
it into fruitage very qickly.


The following is copy of the petition
prepared for submission to the State Legis-
lature:


LOWELL, April, 1873.
To the Honorable the Senate and House OF
Representatives Of the Commonwealth OF


Massachusetts:


The undersigned, citizens Of the State, re-
spectfully set forth the grievances under
which they suffer as women who are not per.
mitted to vote, hold any and all Offices, and
engage in the occupations opened to men,
and are otherwise restricted in the opportunity
Of earning living and herewith beg your
permission to suggest the remedy for these
evils, upon which they pray your honorable
body to act.


The which now governs society says, prac-
t;callv that women should be married,
should engage in work at their own homes,
and should look to their husbands for sup
port. On the other hand, the census shows
that it is impossible to carry out this un-
written but recognized law, for the reason
that there is q large excess Of women in the
commonwealth, and many Of the men Of law
full age are idle, vicious, Incompetent or other
wise unfit to be the heads of the house
holds. Yet your petitioners hold that the
matter is not without remedy. Prejudice
and custom have decided in favor ofrestrict
ing the husband to single wife, yet without
Justice and authority, as we believe. In the
Book which lies at the foundation Of all law
recognized in this country, there is no in
junction against plurality Of wives, while
there are many examples therein recorded in
\ its favor. Mems wives appear to have in
creased in number in proportion with their
flocks and riches. Such q rule even nov
holds in the land from which the Christian
nations received their religion.


Your petitioners have no desire to interfere
with the regulations of any existing house
hold, but simply to present their claims to
tho marriage state for your respectful consid.
Grafton. They deem it their privilege and
their duty to suggest the abolition Of the law
against the marriage Of man to more than
one wife, in cases where it is evident that the
man is able to support the additional burden
laid npon his resources They are aware
that it may take years to remove Prejudiic.es;,